Energy Innovation Lab ‪Google Scholar‬


Education

  • Research Scientist, Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2023
  • Postdoctoral associate, Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2022
  • PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021
  • MS, Mechanical Engineering, American University of Beirut (AUB), 2015
  • BS, Mechanical Engineering, American University of Beirut (AUB), 2014

Teaching Interests

Professor El Fil’s teaching interests encompass core mechanical engineering courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels, including fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics. He aims to provide students with a strong theoretical foundation and practical problem-solving skills, emphasizing applications relevant to energy systems and advanced fluid dynamics. His instruction integrates experimental and computational approaches to prepare students for research and industry challenges. He currently teaches Thermodynamics (ME3322) and Energy Systems (ME 4315).

Research Interests

Professor El Fil’s research focuses on the investigation of multiphase flows, heat and mass transfer, and energy conversion processes. His work includes experimental and numerical studies aimed at improving the understanding of complex transport phenomena in thermo-fluidic systems. The research supports advancements in energy systems efficiency and sustainability, involving the development of models and techniques to analyze fluid behavior under various flow and thermal conditions. 

His mission is to tackle global challenges at the nexus of energy and water sustainability, combining the rigor of thermal sciences with the creativity of materials and device engineering. He studies and designs cutting-edge technologies for atmospheric water harvesting, thermochemical energy storage, and next-generation heat and mass exchangers, translating fundamental research into scalable solutions.

1) Bridge fundamentals and applications: Combine advanced thermal sciences, transport phenomena, and materials engineering to design devices that move seamlessly from lab-scale discovery to real-world deployment.

2) Reimagine the water–energy nexus: From atmospheric water harvesting to thermochemical energy storage and high-performance heat exchangers, he develops technologies that turn waste heat, humidity, and scarce resources into reliable, sustainable utilities.

3) Prototype, test, and scale: Build and evaluate full systems, experimentally and via techno-economic analysis, to deliver solutions that are not only scientifically novel, but also manufacturable, affordable, and impactful at scale.

Recent Publications 

  •  I. H. Sahin, B. El Fil “Enhancing Sorption Kinetics Via Intracrystalline Diffusivity Tuning for High-Density Thermochemical Energy Storage”.  AIChE Annual Meeting 2025. Nov 2-6, 2025. Boston, MA. 
  • J. P. Mooney, O. R. Caylan, J. Gao, J. Punch, V. Egan, B. El Fil*, and L. Zhang “In Situ X-ray Microscopy Unraveling the Onset of Salt Creeping at a Single-Crystal Level “Langmuir 2025 41 (27), 17741-17748 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01460.
  •  C.T. Wilson, C.D. Diaz, J. P. Colque, J.P. Mooney, B. El Fil*, “Solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting in the Atacama Desert through physics-based optimization of a hygroscopic hydrogel device”. Device, Volume 3, Issue 8, 100798 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.device.2025.100798. 
  •  X. Li#, B. El Fil#*, B. Li, G. Graeber, A.C. Li, Y. Zhong, M. Alshrah, C.T. Wilson, E.Lin. “Design of a Compact Multicyclic High-Performance Atmospheric Water Harvester for Arid Environments”. ACS Energy Letters (2024) 9 (7), 3391-3399. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.4c01061. 
  • Y. Zhong, L. Zhang, X. Li, B. El Fil, C. D. Díaz-Marín, A. C. Li, X. Liu, A. LaPotin, E. N. Wang Bridging materials innovations to sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting devices. Nat Rev Mater 9, 681–698 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-024-00665-2.