Nwike Iloeje

Chukwunwike Iloeje is a research scientist combining computational modeling and engineering sciences to drive innovation in advanced energy and conversion systems.

Biography

Highlights

Chukwunwike Iloeje is a senior scientist in Argonne’s Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis division and lead for Argonne’s Resources-to-Products (R2P) Initiative. His work focuses on developing advanced energy technologies and optimizing material recovery systems. He leads a team with expertise spanning CO₂ capture and conversion, critical material recovery, and process optimization for chemical manufacturing and critical material supply chain systems, leveraging AI and advanced scientific computing techniques.

As the lead of R2P, he drives research and strategy at the intersection of conversion and chemical separations for transforming carbon and hydrocarbon-based resources into high-value products. He also works with the DOE to develop and inform strategy for securing critical minerals and materials. Passionate about mentorship and education, he enjoys participating in STEM outreach initiatives and creating internship opportunities for students, inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.

“For new technologies to succeed, they must be cost-effective and available at scale.” — Argonne Senior Scientist Nwike Iloeje

Research Focus

Iloeje leads a multi-expert research team addressing critical challenges in energy and material transformations. His team leverages computational modeling, thermodynamic analysis, and AI to optimize CO₂ capture and conversion systems, chemical manufacturing, critical material recovery processes, and resilient supply chains.

Their work also includes integrating data-driven tools to accelerate the design and deployment of more energy-efficient technologies. As R2P lead, he provides strategic direction for multidisciplinary research that advances foundational science and scale-up innovation to enable low-cost, efficient technologies for transforming carbon-based resources into high-value products.

Impact

Through his research, Iloeje is advancing emerging energy and conversion technologies and developing strategies to optimize and secure supply chains for critical materials and chemical feedstocks. His work supports efforts to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, reduce import reliance, and accelerate the deployment of innovative, cost-effective technologies.

His contributions inform practical strategies to bolster supply chain resilience and manufacturing competitiveness. His leadership of the R2P initiative strengthens Argonne’s role in shaping breakthrough solutions and innovation.

Iloeje is a senior scientist in the Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis division at Argonne National Laboratory. His work bridges engineering science and computational modeling to address critical challenges in advanced energy and materials transformation. He leads teams that focus on optimizing energy and carbon-resource conversion technologies, optimizing supply chains for critical minerals and chemical feedstock, and deploying AI-driven approaches to accelerate process innovation.

Inspired by a lifelong curiosity for learning and innovation, Iloeje’s journey began with a focus on energy conversion systems with carbon capture during his PhD. His interest was further shaped by collaborative research with mentors and peers, leading to impactful work on designing efficient systems for emerging energy technologies and transforming CO2 into valuable chemicals.

At Argonne, he applies computational techniques and mathematical optimization to model, analyze, and optimize energy-efficient and cost-effective technologies. His contributions include studies and open-source design and decision-support tools for energy, manufacturing, and supply chains.

Iloeje leads the Resources-to-Products (R2P) Initiative, providing strategic direction for advancing foundational science and scale-up innovation to enable low-cost, efficient technologies that transform carbon-based resources into high-value products, reinforcing Argonne’s leading role in science innovation. He also holds a joint appointment as a CASE Scientist at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.

A dedicated advocate for STEM education, Iloeje fosters opportunities for young scientists to explore engineering and innovation. Through his research and outreach, he is committed to building a prosperous future that combines cutting-edge science with practical, real-world solutions.

Read the latest Argonne news about Nwike Iloeje:

Staff Spotlight — Nwike Iloeje

As a principle scientist for Argonne National Laboratory’s Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis (ESIA) division, Nwike Iloeje designs and optimizes new manufacturing technologies and their supply chains in order to reduce environmental impacts from fossil fuels.

Managing carbon in the midwest

Summary report from workshop on June 14, 2022.

Education

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2016)
M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2011)
B.S. — University of Nigeria (2005)

Honors and Awards

Impact Argonne Awards (2025)
Impact Argonne Awards (2023)
Impact Argonne Awards (2022)
Impact Argonne Awards (2021)
Best Paper Award (Technology) for 2019, Environmental Science and Technology Journal (2020)

“I want to create a space where young researchers feel confident to take risks, step out of their comfort zones, and make a difference with their work.” — Argonne Senior Scientist Nwike Iloeje

Select Publications

Chukwunwike O. Iloeje, Sarah Runchey, Audrey Gallier, Doris Oke, Li Yu & Alinson Santos Xavier, Assessing the deployment of solar-driven hydrogen from biomass at scale in the U.S., Scientific Reports volume 15, Article number: 14275 (2025).
Shichen Guo, Jianxin Wang, Haozhe Zhang, Chukwunwike O. Iloeje, Di-Jia Liu, Direct Electrochemical Reduction of CO₂ to C₂+ Chemicals: Catalysts, Microenvironments, and Mechanistic Understanding, ACS Energy Lett. 2025, 10, 1, 600–619.
Plathottam S. J., Rzonca A., Lakhnori R., Iloeje C. O., A review of artificial intelligence applications in manufacturing operations, AiChE Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, 2023.
Iloeje C.O., Santos Xavier A., Graziano D. J., Atkins J., Sun K., Gallier A., Protocol for designing, optimizing, and analyzing reverse supply chains using RELOG, STAR Protoc. 2022, 4 (1), 101913.
Iloeje C.O., Santos Xavier A., Graziano D. J., Atkins J., Sun K., Cresko J., Supekar S. D., A systematic analysis of the costs and environmental impacts of critical materials recovery from hybrid electric vehicle batteries in the U.S., iScience 2022, 25 (9), 104830.
Plathottam S. J., Richey B., Curry G., Cresko J., Iloeje C. O., Solvent Extraction Process Design using Deep Reinforcement Learning, AiChE Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, 2021, 3 (2).
Quah T., Iloeje C.O., Liquid–Liquid Extraction Thermodynamic Parameter Estimator (LLEPE) for Multicomponent Separation Systems, Materials Processing Fundamentals, TMS 2021, pp 107-120.
Iloeje, C. O. Modeling Liquid-Liquid Extraction for Critical Elements Separations: an Overview. In Multidisciplinary Advances in Efficient Separation Processes, ACS Symposium Series, 2020, Chapter 11, pp 335-365.
Iloeje, C. O.; Khalid, Y.; Cresko, J.; Graziano, D. J. Assessing the Techno-Economic Feasibility of Solvent-Based, Critical Material Recovery from Uncertain, End-of-Life Battery Feedstock. In Energy Technology 2020: Recycling, Carbon Dioxide Management, and Other Technologies; Chen, X., et al., Eds.; The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series, 2020, pp 269-284.
Iloeje C.O., Jové Colón C. F., Cresko J., Graziano D. J., Gibbs Energy Minimization Model for Solvent Extraction with Application to Rare-Earths Recovery, Environmental Science & Technology 2019, 53 (13), 7736-7745.
Iloeje C.O., Zhao, Z., Ghoniem A. F., Design and techno-economic optimization of a rotary chemical looping combustion power plant with CO₂ capture, Applied Energy, 2018,Vol 231, pp 1179-1190.
Iloeje C.O., Zhao, Z., Ghoniem A. F., A reduced fidelity model for the rotary chemical looping combustion reactor, Applied Energy, 2017, 190, 725-739.
Iloeje C.O., Zhao, Z., Ghoniem A. F., Efficient cycles for carbon capture CLC power plants based on thermally balanced redox reactors, IJGGC, 2015, Vol 41, pp 302-315.
Iloeje C.O., Zhao, Z., Ghoniem A. F., Analysis of thermally coupled chemical looping combustion-based power plants with carbon capture, IJGGC, 2015, Vol 35, pp 56-70.
Iloeje C.O., Field, R. P., Ghoniem A. F., Modeling and parametric analysis of nitrogen and sulfur oxide removal from oxy-combustion flue gas using a single column absorber, Fuel, 2015, Vol 160, pp 178-188.
Zhao, Z., Iloeje, C. O., Chen, T., Ghoniem, A. F., Design of a rotary reactor for chemical-looping combustion. Part 1: Fundamentals and design methodology, Fuel, 2014, 121, 327-343.

Software Contributions

RELOG: Reverse Logistics Optimization
GymSolventX: OpenAI Gym environment for chemical process design with Deep Reinforcement Learning
SolventX: Solvent Extraction Model for multicomponent separations