Dame Clare Grey stands as a preeminent figure in materials chemistry with pioneering contributions to energy storage technologies. She currently holds the prestigious positions of Royal Society Research Professor and Geoffrey Moorhouse-Gibson Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, while also serving as a Fellow of Pembroke College Cambridge. After earning her BA in Chemistry from Oxford University in 1987 and completing her D.Phil. in 1991, she established her academic career at Stony Brook University where she progressed from Assistant Professor in 1994 to Full Professor by 2001. In 2009, she relocated to Cambridge University while maintaining an adjunct position at Stony Brook, further expanding her research impact across transatlantic institutions.
Professor Grey's extensive research applying solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to energy materials has fundamentally transformed our understanding of battery degradation mechanisms in lithium-ion devices. Her paradigm-shifting work has paved the way for the development of less expensive, longer-lasting batteries by revealing critical structural changes during charge-discharge cycles that were previously undetectable with conventional techniques. By applying her NMR methodology to in-situ studies of battery function, she has enabled unprecedented insights into metastable phases and electrolyte-electrode reactions that directly impact battery performance and longevity. This scientific foundation has not only advanced academic understanding but has directly informed practical improvements in commercial battery technologies used for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems worldwide.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Dame Grey co-founded Nyobolt in 2019 to commercialize her research into ultrafast-charging battery technology, demonstrating her commitment to translating scientific discoveries into real-world impact. Her leadership extends to directing the EPSRC Centre for Advanced Materials for Integrated Energy Systems and previously serving as Director of the Northeastern Chemical Energy Storage Centre, a US Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research Centre. Recognized with prestigious awards including the Royal Society's Hughes Medal (2020), the Körber European Science Prize (2021), and the ACS Central Science Disruptors & Innovators Prize (2022), she continues to shape energy policy as a Special Advisor to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on battery strategy. Through her ongoing research and entrepreneurial ventures, Professor Grey remains at the forefront of developing sustainable energy storage solutions critical to achieving global net-zero emissions targets.
