Asif Mahmood, The University of Sydney
The University of Sydney
Research Fellow
Asif Mahmood has been making great strides in the development of inexpensive battery systems which could potentially replace the current commercial lithium ion batteries. With the scarcity and high cost of lithium in mind, Mahmood, by working with the Australian Research Council, aims to develop battery chemistries that depend on earth’s abundant metals, particularly sodium and potassium. He is trying to replicate the performance of graphite materials in both elements to develop cheaper and more sustainable alternatives to lithium-ion. As a result, Mahmood has developed new methodologies to tailor nanomaterial chemistries, harvest enhanced charge storage capacities and obtain nanomaterials with controlled chemistries at mass scale for industrial application. Mahmood has also contributed in upgrading the research facility at The University of Sydney for the development of high performing batteries. The upgrades include battery assembling and testing units. Over the previous year, he wrote 50 peer-viewed articles about his research and all were published in high quality journals. He is currently working on getting an early career research grant from the Australian Research Council.