Rachid Yazami
Encyclopedia
Rachid Yazami is a scientist best known for his research on lithium ion batteries.
s for lithium battery
applications. In 1985 he joined the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)as a Research Associate. He was later promoted to a Research Director (Professor) in 1998.
In 1980 Yazami was the first to discover the reversible intercalation of lithium into graphite in an electrochemical
cell using a polymer electrolyte
. Later this discovery led to the lithium-graphite anode
now used in commercial lithium ion batteries, a US$10B value market. Yazami also worked on other forms of graphite materials for cathode
application in lithium batteries, including graphite oxide and graphite fluoride
. In 2007 he founded a start-up company in California to develop and commercialize his discoveries on fluorine based batteries.
Yazami has served as a Visiting Associate at the California Institute of Technology
between 2000 and 2010 where he conducted cooperative research on electrode materials including nanostructure
d materials such as carbon nanotubes, nano-silicon and nano-germanium anodes. His research on cathode materials included thermodynamics
studies of phase transitions in lithiated transition metal oxides and phosphates. He also developed a new electrochemical technique based on thermodynamics measurements that can apply to extend batteries life and enhance their safety.
Since September 2010 Yazami was appointed a Visiting Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. He also serves as the Director of Battery Programs at the Energy Research Institute (ERIAN). In 2011 Yazami founded a new start-up company in Singapore, KVI,PTE LTD to develop novel equipments and components to enhance battery performance and safety.
From recent experimental data Yazami theorized that in a sealed rechargeable battery cell, such as a lithium ion battery, two different states of charge cannot have simultaneously the same entropy and the same enthalpy. This opens a venue for accurate assessment of a battery state of charge owing to thermodynamics measurements developed by him, known as the Yazami theorem.
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Education
Yazami is a 1978 graduate of the Grenoble Institute of Technology, where he also received a Ph. D. degree in 1985.Battery research
Yazami's research project included a study of graphite intercalation compoundGraphite intercalation compound
Graphite intercalation compounds are complex materials having formula XCy where element or molecule X is inserted between the graphite layers. In this type of compound, the graphite layers remain largely intact and the guest molecules or atoms are located in between...
s for lithium battery
Lithium battery
Lithium batteries are disposable batteries that have lithium metal or lithium compounds as an anode. Depending on the design and chemical compounds used, lithium cells can produce voltages from 1.5 V to about 3.7 V, over twice the voltage of an ordinary zinc–carbon battery or alkaline battery...
applications. In 1985 he joined the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)as a Research Associate. He was later promoted to a Research Director (Professor) in 1998.
In 1980 Yazami was the first to discover the reversible intercalation of lithium into graphite in an electrochemical
Electrochemistry
Electrochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies chemical reactions which take place in a solution at the interface of an electron conductor and an ionic conductor , and which involve electron transfer between the electrode and the electrolyte or species in solution.If a chemical reaction is...
cell using a polymer electrolyte
Proton exchange membrane
A proton exchange membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane is a semipermeable membrane generally made from ionomers and designed to conduct protons while being impermeable to gases such as oxygen or hydrogen...
. Later this discovery led to the lithium-graphite anode
Anode
An anode is an electrode through which electric current flows into a polarized electrical device. Mnemonic: ACID ....
now used in commercial lithium ion batteries, a US$10B value market. Yazami also worked on other forms of graphite materials for cathode
Cathode
A cathode is an electrode through which electric current flows out of a polarized electrical device. Mnemonic: CCD .Cathode polarity is not always negative...
application in lithium batteries, including graphite oxide and graphite fluoride
Carbon monofluoride
Carbon monofluoride , also called polycarbon monofluoride, polycarbon fluoride, poly, and graphite fluoride, is a material formed by high-temperature reaction of fluorine gas with graphite, charcoal, or pyrolytic carbon powder. Its CAS number is...
. In 2007 he founded a start-up company in California to develop and commercialize his discoveries on fluorine based batteries.
Yazami has served as a Visiting Associate at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
between 2000 and 2010 where he conducted cooperative research on electrode materials including nanostructure
Nanostructure
A nanostructure is an object of intermediate size between molecular and microscopic structures.In describing nanostructures it is necessary to differentiate between the number of dimensions on the nanoscale. Nanotextured surfaces have one dimension on the nanoscale, i.e., only the thickness of the...
d materials such as carbon nanotubes, nano-silicon and nano-germanium anodes. His research on cathode materials included thermodynamics
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a physical science that studies the effects on material bodies, and on radiation in regions of space, of transfer of heat and of work done on or by the bodies or radiation...
studies of phase transitions in lithiated transition metal oxides and phosphates. He also developed a new electrochemical technique based on thermodynamics measurements that can apply to extend batteries life and enhance their safety.
Since September 2010 Yazami was appointed a Visiting Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. He also serves as the Director of Battery Programs at the Energy Research Institute (ERIAN). In 2011 Yazami founded a new start-up company in Singapore, KVI,PTE LTD to develop novel equipments and components to enhance battery performance and safety.
From recent experimental data Yazami theorized that in a sealed rechargeable battery cell, such as a lithium ion battery, two different states of charge cannot have simultaneously the same entropy and the same enthalpy. This opens a venue for accurate assessment of a battery state of charge owing to thermodynamics measurements developed by him, known as the Yazami theorem.
Awards and writing
Yazami is the co-author involved in over 200 published papers and the co-inventor of over 50 patents related to lithium primary and rechargeable batteries and on new battery chemistry based on fluoride ion. He served as the President of the International Battery Association (IBA) and as a Member of International Scientific Advisory Board of several international meetings, including the International Meetings on Lithium Batteries (IMLB). Yazami is the recipient of several research awards, including with NATO (Science for Peace Award), NASA, IBA and the Hawaii Battery Conference. He is the co-founder of CFX Battery, Inc. a Caltech-CNRS start up company in Azusa, CaliforniaAzusa, California
Azusa is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 46,361 at the 2010 census, up from 44,712 at the 2000 census. Though sometimes assumed to be a compaction of the phrase "everything from A to Z in the USA" from an old Jack Benny joke, the place name "Azusa"...
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