Rolison was born in Iowa. She moved to south Florida in 1968 where she attended high school. She received her B.S. from Florida Atlantic University in 1975, where she was a Faculty Scholar between 1972 and 1975.
Rolison began her work at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in 1980 immediately after finishing her PhD. She started the Advanced Electrochemical Materials section at the NRL in 1999.[3] She is the author of over 200 articles and holds 24 patents.[4]
Zeolite modified electrodes and electrode modified zeolites
Rolison is known for her research on the modification of electrode surfaces with Zeolites.[5] "Zeolite modified electrodes" are ordinary electrodes coated with a layer of zeolite/polymer composite that excludes particles based on size, shape, and charge. "Electrode-modified zeolites" are synthesized with electroactive transition metal ions or complexes trapped within the lattice "cages" of the zeolite.[6] The "metalated" zeolite is either pressed into a zeolite/polymer composite and used as a solid electrode, or a slurry is dispersed in an electrochemical cell.[7] The metal ions within the zeolite lattice provide redox sites for electrochemical reactions, while the zeolite lattice excludes particles based on size, shape, and charge.[6][8]
Rolison's latest accomplishment is the invention of a zinc-air rechargeable battery with "energy/power performance that meet[s] or exceed[s] state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries".[9] According to Rolison's paper, "interparticle connectivity is lost in powder-composite electrodes leading to regions of high local current density and dendrite formation".[10] While simple zinc-air batteries use a zinc oxide "powder-composite" anode, Rolison's battery uses a zinc "sponge" which preserves interparticle connectivity and maintains a uniform current distribution within the 3D structure of the anode, thereby preventing the regions of locals current density which promote dendrite formation.[11]
2008: Elected Fellow of the Materials Research Society"For developing a class of multifunctional ultraporous materials to address key requirements in future battery, fuel cell, and sensing technologies; and for fundamental studies of structure–property relationships in nanostructured materials."[13]
^ abRolison, Debra R. (1990-07-01). "Zeolite-modified electrodes and electrode-modified zeolites". Chemical Reviews. 90 (5): 867–878. doi:10.1021/cr00103a011. ISSN0009-2665.
^Rolison, Debra R. (1994). "The intersection of electrochemistry with zeolite science". In J.C. Jansen; M. Stöcker; H. G. Karge; J. Weitkamp (eds.). Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis. Advanced Zeolite Science and Applications. Vol. 85. Elsevier. pp. 543–586. doi:10.1016/s0167-2991(08)60778-8. ISBN9780444820013.
^Rolison, Debra R.; Nowak, Robert J.; Welsh, Timothy A.; Murray, Catherine G. (1991-01-01). "Analytical implications of zeolites in overlayers at electrodes". Talanta. 38 (1): 27–35. doi:10.1016/0039-9140(91)80006-l. PMID18965102.
