Autobiography

Extract from the Festschrift issue of J. Phys. Chem., May 1999

Austen Angell is best known for his work on supercooled liquids and the glass transition, and has been the recipient of two internationally contested awards in this area (the Morey Award of the American Ceramic Society, and the Mott Award of the Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, both for the development of the "strong and fragile liquids" classification). His work on the extraordinary behavior of supercooled water and aqueous solutions is particularly well known. Besides these subjects, he has worked on the problem of glassy electrolytes (while at Purdue University) and on non-aqueous solvents for Li battery electrolytes and on polymer-based, or polymer-containing, lithium battery electrolytes (while at Arizona State University). He is credited with the development of the "fragility" concept for liquids in general, the "decoupling index" concept for characterizing the freedom of conducting species to move independent of the supporting medium (liquid, polymer or glass), and with the "polymer-in-salt" concept for high decoupling index non-glassy lithium battery electrolytes. His group has developed the widest electrochemical window solvent on record (ethyl-methyl sulfone, 5.9 V) and the most completely dissociating salt on record (LiBOB) according to high temperature dilute solution studies.

Curriculum Vitae Click here for a downloadable pdf version of the CV

C. Austen Angell

Education:

Professional Experience:

Impact of Research

(a)   Hirsch index: 65

(b)  Reports, or invited commentaries in Nature or Science (bolded in CV): total; 20. Since 1998; 6 (and one in Science, invited, on point of submission)

(c)   Papers cited over 100 times: total;  43.    Since 1998;   3 (and one review[330X])

(d)  Invited Reviews in Chem. Rev. or Ann. Rev. Phys. Chem.: total; 6. Since 1998; 3.  (two others invited but not submitted –one on negative pressure, one on polyamorphism)

(e)   Gordon Conference lecture or discussion leader invitations: total; 53 (44 + 9).  Since 1998; 8 (4 + 4)

(f)   Gordon Conference Chairmanships:
(1) 1977 - Molten Salts and Metals

(2) 1980 Water and Aqueous Solutions

(3) 1997 - Chemistry and Physics of Liquids

(g)  International Conference invited talks: since 1998; about 35

HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS

            1999. Special issue of the Journal of Physical Chemistry (April issue)

            1998   Angell symposium, Satellite to the International Meeting on Relaxation Processes, Pisa Italy, Sept 26th in recognition of collected works.

1.        Awards

(a)  Hildebrand award of the Amer. Chem. Soc. (for liquids studies), 2004.

(b)  NSF Special Creativity Award (DMR, Solid State Chemistry)   1994.       

(c)  Neville Mott Award of the Journal of Non-Cryst. Sol., 1992.

(d)  G.W. Morey Award of the American Ceramic Society, Glass Division, 1990.

(e)  H.N. McCoy Faculty Research Award, Purdue University, 1987.

(f)  NSF Special Creativity Award (DMR, Solid State Chemistry)   1985.

(g)  Faculty Research Award, Purdue University, 1978.        

2.        Lectureships

(a)   Fulbright Fellow, University of Sydney, Australia, 1993.

(b)  A. D. Little Lecturer, Northeastern University, 1980.

(c)    Herzberg Lecturer, Catholic University, Washington D.C, 1999.

3.         Editorial Boards

(a)    Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1974-1982.

(b)    Annual Review Phys. Chem, 1986-1991.

(c)     J. Chem. Phys., 1988-1991

(d)     Physica, 1995-2001

(e)     Solid State Ionics,.2002-

4.           Memberships

(a)   A.C.S. Executive Committee Physical Chemistry 1984-1987

(b)  Member, NSF Materials Research Advisory Board, 1992-until disbanded in 1994

5.            Chairmanships.            Invited Chairman, New York Academy of Sciences Conference on Dynamics of Structural Change near the Glass Transition, New York, Dec. 3-5, 1986.

         Gordon Research Conference Chairmanships (elected)

         (a)      1977 - Molten Salts and Metals

         (b)      1980 - Water and Aqueous Solutions

(c)      1997 - Chemistry and Physics of Liquids

6.        Invited Contributions

  (a)Gordon Research Conference contributions:    44 lectures, 9 D.L, (3 declined)

         (b) Other invited contributions (since 1985):  (i) Internatl: NATO-ASIs :    11

                   Others, Europe (CECAM, Euchem, Bunsen, MECO etc):  26

                   Others, Japan, India, Australia, etc   ICAM, Jap.Batt. etc.    14

                       (ii) National:    Physical &Chemical Soc. Symposia:               10

                           Others:         NAS, Santa Fe Inst. Series etc.                     14                               

7. Publications:    (a)  in print or in press 443

                              (b)   cited over 100 times    43