Balu Balachandran is an Argonne National Laboratory Distinguished Fellow and the Group Leader for the Ceramics and Covetic Materials group in the Applied Materials Division. His research expertise includes nano-carbon infused metals/alloys for high-performance conductors, capacitors for power electronics in electric drive vehicles, fuel cells, ceramic membranes for gas separation, ethylene, oxygen and hydrogen production, natural gas conversion, and high-temperature superconductors.