About

Pradeep Guduru is a Professor of Engineering and Co-Director of the Mechanics of Undersea Science and Engineering Center at Brown University. His research interests include experimental mechanics at micron and nanometer scales, micro-sensors, dynamic deformation, and fracture. He has been recognized for pioneering contributions to the mechanics of dynamic failure, electromechanics of batteries, and the development of high-speed diagnostics and instrumentation. Guduru has received notable awards such as the 2026 B.J. Lazan award from the Society for Experimental Mechanics and has been ranked among the top two percent of scientists worldwide. His work also involves undersea vehicle science and technology, supported by significant research grants, including a supplemental $5.5 million award for related projects.

Research topics

• Materials science
• Composite material
• Mechanics
• Chemical engineering
• Nanotechnology

Selected publications

• Stack pressure effects and viscoplastic deformation in argyrodite solid-state electrolyte

  Matter · 2026-04-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Polymer-based architected materials and structures: Geometry, experiments, constitutive modeling, and advanced simulations

  International Journal of Solids and Structures · 2026-02-17

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• A Burst-mode Cryogenic Thermal Imager Readout IC with Spatial and Temporal Compression

  2025-05-25

  article

  This paper presents a high-speed global-shutter readout integrated circuit (ROIC), which is designed to capture bursts at up to 5 million frames per second from a 32<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">V</sup> ×32<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">H</sup> pixel infrared focal plane array (FPA) detector. The ROIC hosts a 1000-frame on-chip analog burst memory bank, and has additional hardware capabilities for on-chip spatial or temporal compression to extend the supported burst recording duration. The system is intended to operate inside a cryostat at liquid nitrogen temperatures, to support high speed thermal imaging in the mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) band.

  PublisherDOI

• The Influence of Side-chain Identity and Tacticity on Structural, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Syndiotactic Polyhydroxyalkanoates

  Macromolecules · 2025-07-04 · 2 citations

  article

  Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of bioplastic polyesters whose properties can be tuned by polymer composition (i.e., side-chain identity) and microstructure (i.e., tacticity). Although key polymer structure–function relationships have emerged for isotactic PHAs (it-PHAs), similar relationships remain limited for syndiotactic PHAs (st-PHAs). Herein, we report a family of st-PHAs that vary in both side-chain identity (R = CH3, C2H5, C4H7, C4H9, and C6H13) and tacticity (Pr ≈ 0.8, 0.9, and 0.99) and characterize their thermal, scattering, morphological, and mechanical properties. Generally, st-PHAs displayed comparable or higher melting temperatures (Tm) than it-PHAs, where Tm increased with (i) increasing syndiotacticity (ΔTm ≈ 30 °C) and (ii) decreasing side-chain length (ΔTm ≈ 100 °C). Similar to it-PHAs, scattering measurements revealed systematic increases in b-dimension (∼15.1–22.7 Å), cell volume (874–1170 Å3), and long-period (12.9–14.9 nm) with increasing side-chain length. Unlike synthetic and bacterial it-PHAs, isothermal crystallization of st-PHAs generated spherulitic microstructures without banding, and suggested hierarchical structural differences between the two microstructures. Finally, tensile measurements of solvent-cast and melt-pressed dog-bone specimens revealed mechanical properties that were sensitive to side-chain identity. Similar to it-PHAs, Young’s moduli of st-PHAs increased with decreasing side-chain length (E: 52–831 MPa). In contrast, elongation to break (ε; 3.7–183%) and toughness (UT: 0.2–54.6 MJ/m3) of st-PHAs varied nonmonotonically with respect to side-chain length. Our studies highlight key similarities and differences between it- and st-PHAs, and suggest unique and complementary opportunities to tune polymer properties with control over polymer microstructure.

  PublisherDOI

• Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Porous Argyrodite Sulfide Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Batteries

  ACS Applied Energy Materials · 2025-04-23 · 5 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  Argyrodite sulfide (Li6PS5Cl) has been recognized as a promising solid electrolyte material for all-solid-state high-energy-density lithium ion batteries. However, the issue of Li dendrite penetration through Li6PS5Cl continues to be a challenge that limits its performance and wider applications. To understand dendrite growth that is mediated by fracture, measurement of the relevant mechanical properties, i.e., the elastic modulus and the fracture toughness of Li6PS5Cl, is necessary to develop quantitative predictive models of dendrite initiation and propagation and help develop strategies to toughen Li6PS5Cl. Here, an investigation to measure the Young’s modulus and fracture toughness of porous Li6PS5Cl material is reported; it makes use of a custom-built experimental setup. An analysis of the experimental data in conjunction with finite element simulations shows the Young’s modulus of porous Li6PS5Cl to be 4.7 ± 1.1 GPa and the fracture toughness to be 0.17±0.03MPam. These results characterize the bulk behavior of the material at a millimeter scale in contrast to the local surface properties at the micrometer scale through nanoindentation. Based on these values, for a pre-existing crack of size 1 μm, the corresponding critical overpotential and critical current density are estimated to be approximately 12 mV and 1 mA/cm2 respectively. The measurements reported here contribute to the body of knowledge on Li6PS5Cl toward the larger goal of enhancing the ability to predict Li dendrite initiation and propagation in it.

  PublisherDOI

• Dendrite suppression in garnet electrolytes via thermally induced compressive stress

  Joule · 2025-12-15 · 9 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Polymer-Based Architected Materials and Structures: Geometry, Experiments, Constitutive Modeling, and Advanced Simulations

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Reaction-Induced Stress at Argyrodite Sulfide/Li-Metal Interface—Tension or Compression?

  ECS Meeting Abstracts · 2025-07-11

  article

  Argyrodite sulfide (Li 6 PS 5 Cl) has demonstrated great potential as a solid electrolyte (SE) for high-energy-density all-solid-state batteries. However, Lithium (Li) dendrite penetration in Li 6 PS 5 Cl causes electrical short circuits, which has heavily limited the development of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) using Li 6 PS 5 Cl. It is evident that Li 6 PS 5 Cl undergoes interfacial chemical reactions and decomposition when immediately in contact with Li metal, forming a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Currently, there is controversy over whether this chemical-reaction-induced SEI causes compressive or tensile stress at the interface, thereby mitigating or facilitating Li dendrite penetration Li 6 PS 5 Cl, respectively. To answer this question, a customized multiple-beam Optical Stress Sensor system was used to measure the curvature changes that occur and are induced by the Li 6 PS 5 Cl reaction with Li metal. These were evaluated with finite element modeling to determine the stress. The composition of the SEI was also investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, and compared with predictions from atomistic modeling. The results show that the SEI formation generates tensile rather than compressive stress, which is expected to facilitate Li dendrite propagation. We believe this finding provides critical guidance for cycling ASSBs using Li 6 PS 5 Cl as an SE and for engineering the interface between Li 6 PS 5 Cl and Li metal.

  PublisherDOI

• Operando Stress Evolution in Hard Carbon Anodes – Insight into the Mechanical Degradation Induced Failure Mode in Rechargeable Sodium Ion Batteries

  ECS Meeting Abstracts · 2024-08-09

  articleSenior author

  Microstructural instabilities in electrodes arising from cycling induced stress is a primary failure mode in rechargeable batteries. Therefore, a quantitative knowledge of the cycling induced stress evolution in rechargeable battery electrodes is important for understanding the electrode microstructural instabilities during cycling that can potentially inform the electrode design to prolong battery cycle life. The cycling induced stress in electrodes typically arises from the volume changes associated with insertion/extraction of the electroactive species in the electrode matrix. For example, operando measurement of lithiation-delithiation induced stress in graphite electrodes that typically show 10% volume change has previously resulted in useful information that correlates well with the lithiation-delithiation mechanism in graphite anodes 1 . The size of the shuttling-electroactive species can be taken as an indicator of the cycling induced stress magnitude that drives the electrode microstructural instabilities. In this regard, quantification of the cycling induced stress in rechargeable Na-ion battery electrodes is warranted for understanding mechanical degradation induced failure modes owing to the larger size of the electroactive species, i.e., Na ions (vs. Li-ion). Hard carbons as potential anodes in rechargeable sodium ion batteries has gained considerable attention in the recent past due to their superior Na-ion storage capability (vs. graphite that is a canonical anode in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries). However, hard carbon anodes typically show significant capacity fade that can potentially arise from cycling induced mechanical degradation of the anodes. Operando stress measurements coupled with comprehensive electrode microstructural characterization will provide valuable insights in this context. Here we report on the operando stress evolution in hard carbon anodes in rechargeable sodium ion batteries as probed by Multiple Optical-beam Sensing (MOS) technique that basically involves monitoring the spacings among a group of laser spot (Fig. 1). Preliminary measurements have shown that the stress correlates with the potential with a maximum around 12 MPa in compression during sodiation and tensile stress of ~ 2MPa during desodiation. Operando stress measurements are performed in hard carbon anodes in two different electrode configurations – typical composite anodes (with binder and conductive agents) and hard carbon thin film anodes (without binder and conductive agents). The thin film configuration is considered to evaluate intrinsic stress response in hard carbon anodes in absence of any secondary phase. A comparison of operando stress response in these two types of hard carbon anodes along with comprehensive electrode microstructural characterization will be presented. Additionally, attempts will be made to shed light on the current debate in the mechanism of sodium storage in hard carbon anodes by comparing operando stress response of hard carbons from multiple sources along with their structural characterization (Raman, XPS, surface area etc.). V. A. Sethuraman, N. Van Winkle, D. P. Abraham, A. F. Bower, and P. R. Guduru, Journal of Power Sources , 206 , 334–342 (2012). Figure 1

  PublisherDOI

• Development of Epoxy-Resin Based Solid Electrolytes for Multifunctional Structural Batteries

  ECS Meeting Abstracts · 2024-08-09

  article

  A structural battery is defined as being multifunctional; it is a load bearing system with some electrochemical energy storing capability. The electrolyte system is the key enabler for a multifunctional structural battery as it must possess sufficient ionic conductivity (~10 -4 S/cm) and mechanical strength (Youngs’s modulus ~ 600-900 MPa) simultaneously. Polymeric systems offer the best possible scenario for practical realization of multifunctional structural batteries due to a set of favorable properties, such as reasonable ionic conductivity, easy processability etc. In the present work, we focus on the development of a dual-phase structural battery electrolyte to optimize ionic conductivity and mechanical performance simultaneously. An epoxy resin-based system is chosen due to its high mechanical strength and its ability for in-situ polymerization that leads to a unique microstructure promoting multi-functionality. Diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A (DGEBA) accounts for the epoxy to provide hard segments in the matrix and is cured by an amine compound (Jeffamine T-403). A liquid electrolyte is added to the system for improving ionic conductivity without compromising its mechanical strength substantially. Multiple liquid components consisting of lithium salt and solvents are considered -lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LITFSI) dissolved in a solution of ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) and LiTFSI dissolved in 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMIM-TFSI). Ionic conductivity of the electrolyte systems as a function of temperature is measured utilizing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Uniaxial load tests are performed to evaluate the mechanical properties (e.g., Young’s modulus, Yield strength) of the epoxy-based electrolyte systems with and without the addition of the ion conducting liquids. Comparative data on the epoxy-based systems containing varying amounts of liquid components will be presented.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• PECASE: Mechanics of Biological Adhesion, Friction and Engineered Surfaces

  NSF · $406k · 2006–2012

• Nanoscale Sculpting of Ferromagnetic Surfaces with Magnetic Configurational Forces

  NSF · $180k · 2005–2009

• Fundamental Investigations of Adiabatic Shear Localization in Materials with Mesoscale Heterogeneities

  NSF · $441k · 2018–2022

Frequent coauthors

• Vijay A. Sethuraman

  Faraday Technology (United States)

  70 shared

• Julie F. Waters

  Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

  42 shared

• Allan F. Bower

  Providence College

  31 shared

• Siva Nadimpalli

  Michigan State University

  28 shared

• Andrew A. Peterson

  Providence College

  26 shared

• Michael J. Chon

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  26 shared

• Eric Chason

  Brown University

  25 shared

• Brett L. Lucht

  University of Rhode Island

  23 shared

Awards & honors

• 2026 B.J. Lazan award (2025)
• Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) award (2025)
• Supplemental $5.5M for undersea vehicle science and technolo…
• W. M. Keck Foundation award for ultra-high-speed microscope…