University of Oklahoma alumna Abby M. Cardoza, now a researcher at the Colorado School of Mines, has co-authored an award-winning paper in the American Chemical Society’s journal Chemistry of Materials. The study, titled “Expanding the Phase Space for Halide-Based Solid Electrolytes: Li-Mg-Zr-Cl Spinels,” was recently recognized as part of the 2025 Chemistry of Materials Lectureship Awards, honoring significant contributions to materials innovation.
Cardoza, who completed her undergraduate studies in chemistry at the University of Oklahoma, conducted research under Dr. Bayram Saparov, with additional indirect mentorship from Dr. Daniel Glatzhofer. Her foundational work at OU in inorganic materials chemistry helped prepare her for advanced research in solid-state materials at the graduate level.
The publication—authored in collaboration with scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Colorado School of Mines—introduces a new class of lithium-magnesium-zirconium chloride (Li-Mg-Zr-Cl) spinel materials. These compounds show promise for use as earth-abundant, halide-based solid electrolytes in next-generation batteries. By replacing costly rare-earth elements with more sustainable metals, the team’s findings move the field closer to scalable, environmentally friendly solid-state energy storage.
While the University of Oklahoma was not a direct institutional partner on the study, Cardoza’s role highlights OU’s expanding impact in the field of materials science, particularly through alumni who continue to contribute to major national research efforts. Her success also underscores the strength of OU’s undergraduate research mentorship model and the influence of faculty like Saparov and Glatzhofer in preparing students for high-impact scientific careers.
“OU’s commitment to hands-on research experiences continues to empower our students to make global contributions,” said a representative from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “Abby’s achievement is a reflection of that tradition.”
The recognition from Chemistry of Materials places Cardoza among a select group of early-career scientists advancing sustainable materials for clean-energy technologies.
