Mercouri G. Kanatzidis

2026 Sigma Xi Fellow

Statement

"My association with Sigma Xi spans many years, and I have valued its commitment to scientific discovery, research integrity, and the encouragement of young scientists. Receiving the Society’s Senior Meritorious Faculty Award in 2000 and the Walston Chubb Award for Innovation in 2024 were meaningful milestones in this relationship. Sigma Xi’s recognition of research across disciplinary boundaries resonates with my own work at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, and energy. Its emphasis on mentorship and a shared commitment to research also reflects values central to my career. Election as a Fellow is a special honor, and I am grateful to be part of this community."

"Thank you again for this recognition. I will follow up about my availability for the November 7 ceremony as soon as my schedule becomes clearer."

Biography

Mercouri G. Kanatzidis is the Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University, with a joint appointment in Materials Science and Engineering, and a Senior Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Iowa in 1984. Following postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan and Northwestern University, he joined Michigan State University in 1987 and moved to Northwestern in 2006.
His research centers on discovering new inorganic materials and understanding the relationships among composition, crystal structure, and physical properties. His group published the first demonstration of a solid-state solar cell in which a halide perovskite film served as the light-absorbing semiconductor, helping establish the foundation of perovskite photovoltaics. His subsequent research has advanced perovskite materials for solar energy conversion and radiation detection. He has also pioneered high-performance thermoelectric materials for converting waste heat into electricity and metal sulfide ion exchangers for removing heavy metals and radioactive contaminants from water.

Kanatzidis is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His honors include the American Chemical Society Awards in Inorganic Chemistry and in the Chemistry of Materials, the Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize, the ENI Renewable Energy Prize, and the Albert Einstein World Award of Science. Sigma Xi recognized him with its Senior Meritorious Faculty Award in 2000 and the Walston Chubb Award for Innovation in 2024.

Through research, teaching, mentorship, and his longstanding service as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Solid State Chemistry, he has helped advance inorganic materials chemistry and train successive generations of scientists.