Researchers discovered that adding two chemicals to the electrolyte of a lithium metal battery prevents the formation of dendrites – “fingers” of lithium that pierce the barrier between the battery’s halves, causing it to short out, overheat and sometimes burst into flame.

Jens Nørskov, director of the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis at Stanford and SLAC, has been named a member of the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions for engineers.

Burton Richter, Nobel laureate and director emeritus of SLAC, has received the National Medal of Science – the nation's highest honor for achievement in the field of science.

The SLAC and Stanford professor and SUNCAT director is being honored for groundbreaking work in catalysis, which promotes chemical reactions in thousands of industrial processes.