Rechargeable batteries represent a pinnacle of electrochemical engineering. When a battery is first charged, the fortuitous decomposition of a tiny amount of electrolyte allows lithium ions to repeatedly intercalate in solid electrodes over thousands of cycles. Mastering this surface chemistry was critical to the development of lithium-ion battery technologies, which ultimately enabled portable electronics. This advancement in battery technology not only revolutionized wireless electronics but also set the stage for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Batteries are central to addressing climate change through their use in electric vehicles and storing energy from renewables on the grid.
Every single Li atom plays a pivotal role, with its importance amplifying in next-generation energy storage systems. Lithium-based batteries are a mature technology and improvements in energy and power density must meet stringent standards. In our laboratory, we are interested in understanding how electrolyte decomposition, ion transport through surface films, and discrete surface structures correlate with performance degradation in lithium and beyond lithium-ion batteries. We probe complex electrochemical interfaces in functional devices using a wide range of chemical spectroscopies available in the Columbia University and Brookhaven National Laboratory, and are particularly fond of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging.
Magnetic resonance is uniquely positioned to characterize local structure in disordered materials and has the singular ability to probe material dynamics. The movement of an active ion is determined by its local coordination environment. In some phases, a cation might not even participate in the electrochemical reaction, leading to a loss of battery capacity. Identifying these species is critical to prevent battery failure. We use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to monitor the electrodeposition of lithium and electrolyte decomposition reactions, especially in batteries that use cathodes with little to no cobalt. The insights we gather help formulate design rules for future batteries using sodium and potassium chemistries. We have a strong interest in developing advanced magnetic resonance tools to better understand the chemical kinetics linked to failure in practical batteries. Besides energy storage systems, we use these techniques to study a variety of materials beyond batteries, such as pseudocapacitors, molecular electronics, metal organic frameworks, quantum dots, and two-dimensional van der Waals materials.
Our research is highly collaborative, both within and outside of the group, and making members of our community feel valued and respected is a top priority. We are a diverse group of scientific researchers who are passionate about discovering new knowledge and sharing it with others. Our team is involved in a variety of on- and off-campus efforts that aim to make science and engineering more accessible, with many of us taking on founding and leadership roles. If you are interested in joining our vibrant team, please check our open positions.
Every single Li atom plays a pivotal role, with its importance amplifying in next-generation energy storage systems. Lithium-based batteries are a mature technology and improvements in energy and power density must meet stringent standards. In our laboratory, we are interested in understanding how electrolyte decomposition, ion transport through surface films, and discrete surface structures correlate with performance degradation in lithium and beyond lithium-ion batteries. We probe complex electrochemical interfaces in functional devices using a wide range of chemical spectroscopies available in the Columbia University and Brookhaven National Laboratory, and are particularly fond of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging.
Magnetic resonance is uniquely positioned to characterize local structure in disordered materials and has the singular ability to probe material dynamics. The movement of an active ion is determined by its local coordination environment. In some phases, a cation might not even participate in the electrochemical reaction, leading to a loss of battery capacity. Identifying these species is critical to prevent battery failure. We use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to monitor the electrodeposition of lithium and electrolyte decomposition reactions, especially in batteries that use cathodes with little to no cobalt. The insights we gather help formulate design rules for future batteries using sodium and potassium chemistries. We have a strong interest in developing advanced magnetic resonance tools to better understand the chemical kinetics linked to failure in practical batteries. Besides energy storage systems, we use these techniques to study a variety of materials beyond batteries, such as pseudocapacitors, molecular electronics, metal organic frameworks, quantum dots, and two-dimensional van der Waals materials.
Our research is highly collaborative, both within and outside of the group, and making members of our community feel valued and respected is a top priority. We are a diverse group of scientific researchers who are passionate about discovering new knowledge and sharing it with others. Our team is involved in a variety of on- and off-campus efforts that aim to make science and engineering more accessible, with many of us taking on founding and leadership roles. If you are interested in joining our vibrant team, please check our open positions.
