Find Faculty Experts
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Education
- Degree: Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Year: 2014-2016
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Institution and Location
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL -
Major Discipline
Materials Science and Engineering
- Degree: Ph.D.
- Year: 2014
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Institution and Location
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA -
Major Discipline
Engineering Sciences
- Degree: S,M.
- Year: 2010
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Institution and Location
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA -
Major Discipline
Engineering Sciences
- Degree: B,S,
- Year: 2008
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Institution and Location
Rice University, Houston, TX (summa cum laude) -
Major Discipline
Mechanical Engineering
- Degree: B.A.
- Year: 2008
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Institution and Location
Rice University, Houston, TX (summa cum laude) -
Major Discipline
Materials Science
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Matt Pharr
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Department(s): Department of Mechanical Engineering
Campus: Texas A&M University
Contact Information
Phone: 979-458-3114Personal/Dept/Lab URL:
E-mail: mpharr85@tamu.edu
Personal Departmental Webpage
Experimental Solid Mechanics Laboratory (ESML)
Google Scholar
Research Topic(s)
Technologies for energy storage: Batteries; Design and synthesis of energy conversion systems; Multifunctional materials for energy applications; Modeling, simulation and optimization of energy systems
Research Summary
The Experimental Solid Mechanics Laboratory (ESML) investigates systems that exhibit a strong interplay between mechanics and other fields, such as electronics and chemistry. Despite the name of the lab, we also emphasize a complementary theoretical understanding of these systems. Current areas of interest include mechanics of materials for energy storage and conversion, coupled electro-chemo-mechanics, mass transport in materials, deformation and fracture of soft materials, and mechanics of flexible/wearable electronics. As a particular example, we have investigated how electrochemical driving forces lead to mass transport, large deformation, stress, and fracture in high-capacity lithium-ion battery electrodes.
Professional Background
2016-Present
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Aug 2014-Jul 2016
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
2007 Mar-Sep
Consultant, Saxonian Institute of Surface Mechanics, Eilenburg, Germany
2006 May-Aug
Research Intern, Scintillation Materials Research Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
2005 Jun-Aug
Intern, Department of Energy SULI Program, Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
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Themes, Areas, and Topics
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Theme 1: Fossil and Non-Fossil based Technologies for Energy
-
Area 1: Fossil-based Technologies for Energy
- T1: Petroleum exploration and production
- T2: Conventional and unconventional reservoirs
- T3: Drilling technologies
- T4: Natural/shale gas production
- T5: Natural/shale gas supply chain
- T6: Coal conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T57: Energy security
- T58: Environmental risk assessment for planning offshore structures
- T60: Water use in hydraulic fracturing
- T65: Crude oil processing: non-thermal, electrical discharge, and plasma processes
-
Area 2: Renewable Technologies for Energy
- T7: Biomass production
- T8: Biomass conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T9: Biomass-based supply chain
- T10: Hybrid feedstocks (any combination of biomass/coal/natural gas/petroleum) conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T11: Hybrid feedstocks-based supply chain
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T17: Solar energy conversion and lighting technologies
- T18: Materials for solar energy conversion and storage
- T19: Wind energy conversion technologies
- T20: Wind energy measurement, forecasting, and storage
- T24: Ocean energy conversion
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T34: Fuel cells technologies and materials
- T35: Thermoelectrics-based technologies and materials
- T55: Nondestructive testing for energy applications
- T56: Biofuel biochemistry and energy metabolism
- T63: Turbomachinery for energy use and its reliability
- T64: Materials for wind energy
- Area 3: Geothermal and Hydropower-based Technologies for Energy
-
Area 4: Nuclear Energy Technologies
- T14: Nuclear energy conversion technologies
- T15: Materials for nuclear fuels and system design
- T16: Nuclear safety and security
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T53: Applied superconductivity
- T54: Neutron imaging for energy materials
- T55: Nondestructive testing for energy applications
- T57: Energy security
-
Area 8: Multi-scale Analysis, Simulation, Synthesis, and Optimization of Energy Systems
- T5: Natural/shale gas supply chain
- T6: Coal conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T8: Biomass conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T9: Biomass-based supply chain
- T10: Hybrid feedstocks (any combination of biomass/coal/natural gas/petroleum) conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T11: Hybrid feedstocks-based supply chain
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T13: Hydrogen-based supply chain
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T39: Modeling, simulation and optimization of energy systems
- T40: Design and synthesis of energy conversion systems
- T41: Energy supply chain
- T42: Control, scheduling, planning, safety, risk analysis, and uncertainty in energy systems
- T45: Energy and sustainability
- T46: Energy and water supply chain
- T47: Energy and food supply chain
- T48: Energy efficiency in urban systems
- T49: Energy use, conservation and lighting technologies for buildings
- T50: Energy in transportation systems: Electric, natural gas, and hybrid vehicles
- T59: Communications for energy systems
- T60: Water use in hydraulic fracturing
- T62: Environmental impacts of energy production
- Area 9: Energy Transmission
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Area 10: Energy Policy, Law, Security, and Societal Impact
- T16: Nuclear safety and security
- T33: Smart grid safety and security
- T41: Energy supply chain
- T43: Energy economics
- T44: Energy law and policy
- T45: Energy and sustainability
- T46: Energy and water supply chain
- T47: Energy and food supply chain
- T57: Energy security
- T62: Environmental impacts of energy production
-
Area 1: Fossil-based Technologies for Energy
-
Theme 2: Materials, Catalysis, and Separations for Energy
-
Area 1: Fossil-based Technologies for Energy
- T1: Petroleum exploration and production
- T2: Conventional and unconventional reservoirs
- T3: Drilling technologies
- T4: Natural/shale gas production
- T5: Natural/shale gas supply chain
- T6: Coal conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T57: Energy security
- T58: Environmental risk assessment for planning offshore structures
- T60: Water use in hydraulic fracturing
- T65: Crude oil processing: non-thermal, electrical discharge, and plasma processes
-
Area 2: Renewable Technologies for Energy
- T7: Biomass production
- T8: Biomass conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T9: Biomass-based supply chain
- T10: Hybrid feedstocks (any combination of biomass/coal/natural gas/petroleum) conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T11: Hybrid feedstocks-based supply chain
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T17: Solar energy conversion and lighting technologies
- T18: Materials for solar energy conversion and storage
- T19: Wind energy conversion technologies
- T20: Wind energy measurement, forecasting, and storage
- T24: Ocean energy conversion
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T34: Fuel cells technologies and materials
- T35: Thermoelectrics-based technologies and materials
- T55: Nondestructive testing for energy applications
- T56: Biofuel biochemistry and energy metabolism
- T63: Turbomachinery for energy use and its reliability
- T64: Materials for wind energy
- Area 3: Geothermal and Hydropower-based Technologies for Energy
-
Area 4: Nuclear Energy Technologies
- T14: Nuclear energy conversion technologies
- T15: Materials for nuclear fuels and system design
- T16: Nuclear safety and security
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T53: Applied superconductivity
- T54: Neutron imaging for energy materials
- T55: Nondestructive testing for energy applications
- T57: Energy security
-
Area 5: Energy Storage
- T31: Electric power generation and storage
- T34: Fuel cells technologies and materials
- T35: Thermoelectrics-based technologies and materials
- T36: Technologies for energy storage: Batteries
- T37: Technologies for energy storage: Hydrogen
- T38: Technologies for energy storage: Supercapacitors
- T51: Technologies for energy storage: Compressed air
- T52: Technologies for energy storage: Heat pumps
- T61: Technologies for energy storage: Flywheels
- T64: Materials for wind energy
- Area 6: Energy Efficiency
- Area 7: Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage
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Area 8: Multi-scale Analysis, Simulation, Synthesis, and Optimization of Energy Systems
- T5: Natural/shale gas supply chain
- T6: Coal conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T8: Biomass conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T9: Biomass-based supply chain
- T10: Hybrid feedstocks (any combination of biomass/coal/natural gas/petroleum) conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T11: Hybrid feedstocks-based supply chain
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T13: Hydrogen-based supply chain
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27 Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T39: Modeling, simulation and optimization of energy systems
- T40: Design and synthesis of energy conversion systems
- T41: Energy supply chain
- T42: Control, scheduling, planning, safety, risk analysis, and uncertainty in energy systems
- T45: Energy and sustainability
- T46: Energy and water supply chain
- T47: Energy and food supply chain
- T48: Energy efficiency in urban systems
- T49: Energy use, conservation and lighting technologies for buildings
- T50: Energy in transportation systems: Electric, natural gas, and hybrid vehicles
- T59: Communications for energy systems
- T60: Water use in hydraulic fracturing
- T62: Environmental impacts of energy production
-
Area 1: Fossil-based Technologies for Energy
-
Theme 3: Multi-scale Energy Systems Engineering
-
Area 1: Fossil-based Technologies for Energy
- T1: Petroleum exploration and production
- T2: Conventional and unconventional reservoirs
- T3: Drilling technologies
- T4: Natural/shale gas production
- T5: Natural/shale gas supply chain
- T6: Coal conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T57: Energy security
- T58: Environmental risk assessment for planning offshore structures
- T60: Water use in hydraulic fracturing
- T65: Crude oil processing: non-thermal, electrical discharge, and plasma processes
-
Area 2: Renewable Technologies for Energy
- T7: Biomass production
- T8: Biomass conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T9: Biomass-based supply chain
- T10: Hybrid feedstocks (any combination of biomass/coal/natural gas/petroleum) conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T11: Hybrid feedstocks-based supply chain
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T17: Solar energy conversion and lighting technologies
- T18: Materials for solar energy conversion and storage
- T19: Wind energy conversion technologies
- T20: Wind energy measurement, forecasting, and storage
- T24: Ocean energy conversion
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T34: Fuel cells technologies and materials
- T35: Thermoelectrics-based technologies and materials
- T55: Nondestructive testing for energy applications
- T56: Biofuel biochemistry and energy metabolism
- T63: Turbomachinery for energy use and its reliability
- T64: Materials for wind energy
- Area 3: Geothermal and Hydropower-based Technologies for Energy
-
Area 4: Nuclear Energy Technologies
- T14: Nuclear energy conversion technologies
- T15: Materials for nuclear fuels and system design
- T16: Nuclear safety and security
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T53: Applied superconductivity
- T54: Neutron imaging for energy materials
- T55: Nondestructive testing for energy applications
- T57: Energy security
- Area 6: Energy Efficiency
- Area 7: Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage
-
Area 8: Multi-scale Analysis, Simulation, Synthesis, and Optimization of Energy Systems
- T5: Natural/shale gas supply chain
- T6: Coal conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T8: Biomass conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T9: Biomass-based supply chain
- T10: Hybrid feedstocks (any combination of biomass/coal/natural gas/petroleum) conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T11: Hybrid feedstocks-based supply chain
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T13: Hydrogen-based supply chain
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T39: Modeling, simulation and optimization of energy systems
- T40: Design and synthesis of energy conversion systems
- T41: Energy supply chain
- T42: Control, scheduling, planning, safety, risk analysis, and uncertainty in energy systems
- T45: Energy and sustainability
- T46: Energy and water supply chain
- T47: Energy and food supply chain
- T48: Energy efficiency in urban systems
- T49: Energy use, conservation and lighting technologies for buildings
- T50: Energy in transportation systems: Electric, natural gas, and hybrid vehicles
- T59: Communications for energy systems
- T60: Water use in hydraulic fracturing
- T62: Environmental impacts of energy production
- Area 9: Energy Transmission
-
Area 10: Energy Policy, Law, Security, and Societal Impact
- T16: Nuclear safety and security
- T33: Smart grid safety and security
- T41: Energy supply chain
- T43: Energy economics
- T44: Energy law and policy
- T45: Energy and sustainability
- T46: Energy and water supply chain
- T47: Energy and food supply chain
- T57: Energy security
- T62: Environmental impacts of energy production
-
Area 1: Fossil-based Technologies for Energy
-
Theme 4: Energy Economics, Law, Policy, and Societal Impact
-
Area 1: Fossil-based Technologies for Energy
- T1: Petroleum exploration and production
- T2: Conventional and unconventional reservoirs
- T3: Drilling technologies
- T4: Natural/shale gas production
- T5: Natural/shale gas supply chain
- T6: Coal conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T57: Energy security
- T58: Environmental risk assessment for planning offshore structures
- T60: Water use in hydraulic fracturing
- T65: Crude oil processing: non-thermal, electrical discharge, and plasma processes
-
Area 2: Renewable Technologies for Energy
- T7: Biomass production
- T8: Biomass conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T9: Biomass-based supply chain
- T10: Hybrid feedstocks (any combination of biomass/coal/natural gas/petroleum) conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T11: Hybrid feedstocks-based supply chain
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T17: Solar energy conversion and lighting technologies
- T18: Materials for solar energy conversion and storage
- T19: Wind energy conversion technologies
- T20: Wind energy measurement, forecasting, and storage
- T24: Ocean energy conversion
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T34: Fuel cells technologies and materials
- T35: Thermoelectrics-based technologies and materials
- T55: Nondestructive testing for energy applications
- T56: Biofuel biochemistry and energy metabolism
- T63: Turbomachinery for energy use and its reliability
- T64: Materials for wind energy
- Area 3: Geothermal and Hydropower-based Technologies for Energy
-
Area 4: Nuclear Energy Technologies
- T14: Nuclear energy conversion technologies
- T15: Materials for nuclear fuels and system design
- T16: Nuclear safety and security
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T53: Applied superconductivity
- T54: Neutron imaging for energy materials
- T55: Nondestructive testing for energy applications
- T57: Energy security
- Area 7: Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage
-
Area 8: Multi-scale Analysis, Simulation, Synthesis, and Optimization of Energy Systems
- T5: Natural/shale gas supply chain
- T6: Coal conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T8: Biomass conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T9: Biomass-based supply chain
- T10: Hybrid feedstocks (any combination of biomass/coal/natural gas/petroleum) conversion to liquid fuels/chemicals/electricity
- T11: Hybrid feedstocks-based supply chain
- T12: Hydrogen production
- T13: Hydrogen-based supply chain
- T25: Catalysis and reaction engineering for energy applications
- T26: Combustion
- T27: Multifunctional materials for energy applications
- T28: Separation technologies for energy applications (e.g., CO2 capture, utilization, storage)
- T29: Materials for separations in energy applications
- T39: Modeling, simulation and optimization of energy systems
- T40: Design and synthesis of energy conversion systems
- T41: Energy supply chain
- T42: Control, scheduling, planning, safety, risk analysis, and uncertainty in energy systems
- T45: Energy and sustainability
- T46: Energy and water supply chain
- T47: Energy and food supply chain
- T48: Energy efficiency in urban systems
- T49: Energy use, conservation and lighting technologies for buildings
- T50: Energy in transportation systems: Electric, natural gas, and hybrid vehicles
- T59: Communications for energy systems
- T60: Water use in hydraulic fracturing
- T62: Environmental impacts of energy production
- Area 9: Energy Transmission
-
Area 10: Energy Policy, Law, Security, and Societal Impact
- T16: Nuclear safety and security
- T33: Smart grid safety and security
- T41: Energy supply chain
- T43: Energy economics
- T44: Energy law and policy
- T45: Energy and sustainability
- T46: Energy and water supply chain
- T47: Energy and food supply chain
- T57: Energy security
- T62: Environmental impacts of energy production
-
Area 1: Fossil-based Technologies for Energy
-
Theme 1: Fossil and Non-Fossil based Technologies for Energy