This dissertation is a milestone in more ways than one: on a personal level, this work and the Ph.D. degree that accompanies it is an achievement I will treasure for years, and in the context of pushing the envelope of the materials science related energy research, the broader impact of this work is truly remarkable. Thus, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey with me. Ever since I have stepped foot on United States soil I have been overwhelmed with a deluge of support from within