The Rice Engineering Initiative for Energy Transition and Sustainability (REINVENTS) was honored to welcome Donald R. Sadoway, John F. Elliott Professor Emeritus of Materials Chemistry in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on April 8, 2025, for the inaugural lecture in the REINVENTS Distinguished Lecture Series. Sadoway is a trailblazing researcher in materials chemistry and energy storage, a serial entrepreneur, and a sought-after speaker on innovation and technology. He has numerous accolades, including recognition by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Sadoway spoke to a packed room of Rice University students, faculty, and community members about emerging technologies poised to shape a carbon-free electric future in his talk, “Electrochemical Pathways Towards Deep Decarbonization and Profitable Sustainability.”
Sadoway emphasized the importance of a low-carbon electric future and the challenges of electrification, including the need for resource-intensive mining and smelting. He highlighted the need for radical innovation to reduce carbon emissions from large CO2 producers, such as the metallurgy and automobile industries, in a cost-effective way. For example, Sadoway pioneered a new technique in molten oxide electrolysis for steel production that produces oxygen instead of CO2 as the by-product.
Another focus of Sadoway’s research has been electrochemical innovations in energy storage. Electricity storage is critical to the widespread deployment of carbon-free—but intermittent—renewables like solar and wind. It also improves the cost, security, and stability of the electrical grid. He shared insights from his pioneering research, including his invention of the liquid metal battery for large-scale stationary storage, which provides a colossal power capability on demand without the threat of fire.
A major takeaway from the discussion was the need for further innovation and especially the importance of teaching, mentoring, and empowering young researchers to drive innovation. Sadoway advised that young researchers look beyond the novelty of a research question and really focus on impact. He called on young students, who he believes are more open to radical approaches than experts, to tackle huge issues, such as industry-scale carbon emissions, in new and interesting ways.
During the Q&A, Sadoway also answered questions about the practicality of more sustainable technologies, the role of government policy, and the future of electrochemistry.
Following the lecture, Aditya Mohite, Faculty Director of REINVENTS and William M. Rice Trustee Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, presented Sadoway with a medal commemorating the 50th anniversary of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing.
View the full presentation here.
About REINVENTS:
REINVENTS (Rice Engineering Initiative for Energy Transition and Sustainability) leverages Rice Engineering and Computing’s efforts in energy and sustainability and partners with industry to develop innovative solutions that address existing and emerging environmental and climate concerns. As a 1:1 accelerator for scalable energy solutions, REINVENTS develops transformative technologies for energy security and independence and supplies an energy talent pipeline for the workforce of the future.