Cristian I. Contescu

Cristian Contescu graduated from Bucharest University (Magna cum Laudae) and obtained his doctoral degree from the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute (Romania). As a young chemist at the Institute of Physical Chemistry in Bucharest (Romania) he conducted applied (catalysts and adsorbent) and basic research (thin films and principles of catalyst preparation). As a Visiting Scientist and Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University he worked on characterization of surface reactivity of heterogeneous catalysts and porous carbons. After holding research scientist positions in industry (Hitco Carbon Composites, in Gardena, CA) and a small business company (Materials Methods LLC, in Newport Beach, CA), he joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in 2004 as Senior Staff Scientist. Before retirement in 2022, his research was focused on characterization of surface behavior of nuclear graphite for the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors. His works on graphite reactivity towards various oxidants over the last 15 years recommend him an expert on nuclear graphite chronic and acute oxidation. During his tenure at ORNL Dr. Contescu also contributed to development of TRISO fuel for high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors; improvement of graphite electrodes lifetime for Li-ion batteries; investigation of atomistic mechanisms of spillover-enhanced hydrogen storage by Pd-modified microporous carbons; characterization of dynamics and phase stability of hydrogen confined in narrow carbon micropores, including quantum sieving of D2/H2 isotopes; development of porous carbon adsorbents from lignin and charred biomass for CO2 separation and CH4 storage; development and standardization of experimental methods for surface characterization of carbon materials; and activities in sub-committees on nuclear graphite of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).