Abstract: Thermal neutrons are conventionally used to characterize materials. But can they also be harnessed to actively modify materials and improve their functionality? This talk explores how thermal neutrons at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) can be used to engineer them for new applications. I will present our interdisciplinary research exploring how neutron irradiation can improve ion transport in materials for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. Our initial theoretical and experimental studies of lithium metaborate (LiBO₂), a promising battery cathode-coating material, demonstrated that neutron irradiation can enhance ionic conductivity in a dose-dependent manner while preserving the material's overall crystal structure. These findings provide proof of principle that radiation-induced changes at the atomic scale can be harnessed to improve material performance. Building on these results, we are extending our research to other promising battery materials, including lithium aluminate (LiAlO₂) and antiperovskite lithium oxychloride (Li₃OCl). By combining neutron irradiation and experimental measurements with computer simulations, we aim to understand how irradiation changes materials at the atomic scale and how these changes influence their functional properties. Ultimately, our vision is to transform neutron irradiation from a perceived source of materials degradation into a controllable tool for materials engineering, opening new possibilities for discovering and designing better materials for next-generation energy storage.