Robert Tenent came to NREL in late 2007 after spending five years with ZettaCore, Inc., a venture-backed company focused on integrating electrochemical charge storage into memory devices. Dr. Tenent was the company's initial technical hire and successfully led several efforts that moved company technologies from academic laboratories into large-scale semiconductor fabrication facilities. While Dr. Tenent maintains solid industry/business relationships, he also has a strong interest in fundamental issues regarding new materials for improved electrochemical devices, in particular electrochromic windows and lithium ion batteries. At NREL, Dr. Tenent's research has focused on development of cost-effective, manufacturing friendly methods for the production of materials for both energy generation (PV) and efficiency (smart windows).

Robert Tenent received his Ph.D. in Chemistry with a specialization in Electrochemistry from Mississippi State University in 2000 under the direction of Dr. David Wipf. His doctoral work focused on modification and characterization of carbon electrode surfaces using electrochemical microscopy techniques. He then performed postdoctoral work at North Carolina State University prior to joining ZettaCore, Inc. 

New Materials Design and Integration for Electrochromic Devices and Li-ion Batteries

Gel/Solid Electrolyte Materials Development

Novel Materials for Energy Efficiency Applications

Electrochemical Probe Microscopy

Nanomaterials Characterization