Research team
Expertise
PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering. Skilled in energy storage techniques such as Li-ion/Na-ion coin cell assembling, electrode fabrication, electrochemical measurement techniques, supercapacitor assembling methods and measurements, and electrode material preparations. Experienced in cell testing equipment operations and data analysis. Strong engineering professional with a Bachelor's degree focused in Electrical engineering. Experienced Electrical Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in Solar Power and Hydroelectric projects. Skilled in 3ds Max, Matlab, Power System Engineering, and Electrical Engineering.
Laser-structured cathodes for lithium-sulfur batteries
Abstract
Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSB) promise high energy density compared to lithium-ion batteries, but are limited by several problems. LSB electrodes suffer from mechanical failure due to sulfur's large volume expansion, sluggish ion transport due to the insulating nature of active sulfur and reaction intermediates, and capacity loss due to dissolved polysulfide intermediates. This project introduces a novel dual strategy to solve these issues. The primary novelty is to structure the LSB cathode for the first time by femtosecond laser ablation. The obtained microchannel architecture will act as ion highways to improve transport, as stress-relief zones to accommodate volume expansion, and as physical traps to limit polysulfide shuttling. The secondary novelty is to complement this physical approach with a metal-organic framework (MOF) derived catalyst that chemically adsorbs and rapidly converts the polysulfides that are physically trapped inside the structured channels. Using advanced techniques, such as scanning electrochemical cell microscopy, the local activity and failure points will be mapped, whereas operando Raman and XRD will track internal chemical changes in real-time. This will provide mechanistic insight in the effect of electrode laser structuring equipped with MOF-derived catalysts. The goal is to deliver a capacity ?800 mAh/g after ?500 cycles at 0.5 C under relevant operating conditions (sulfur loading ? 4 mg/cm² and electrolyte/sulfur ratio ? 5 µL/mg).Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Hereijgers Jonas
- Fellow: Bhattarai Roshan Mangal
Research team(s)
Funding
- FWO
Project type(s)
- Research Project