Electrochemistry Research Targets Sustainable Energy and AI Efficiency
Bilge Yildiz, a professor of electrochemistry at MIT, has dedicated her career to advancing technologies that bridge sustainable energy and artificial intelligence. Her research spans three domains: electrochemical systems, solid-state battery safety, and proton-based neuromorphic devices. When asked to choose a favorite project, Yildiz declined, stating, “That would be like asking me to choose among my kids.”
Yildiz’s work on solid-state batteries replaces flammable organic electrolytes with inorganic solids, enhancing energy density and safety. This approach addresses critical limitations in current battery technology, particularly for electric vehicles and grid storage.
Meanwhile, her team’s development of a physical model to predict proton mobility in metal oxides, published in MIT News, aims to accelerate the discovery of materials for green energy applications.
In neuromorphic computing, Yildiz’s group explores proton transport as an alternative to electron-based systems, mimicking biological learning rules to improve AI energy efficiency.
Collaborations with neuroscientists focus on emulating synaptic plasticity, a process critical to human memory and adaptation. Yildiz emphasized that AI’s energy demands are “increasing exponentially,” necessitating breakthroughs in hardware design.
At Materials Day 2025, Yildiz highlighted the role of her research in advancing “The physically informed search of fast proton conductors,” for decarbonization efforts. The event underscored the urgency of scaling materials innovation to meet climate goals.
