The project, High Energy Density Anode Technologies (HEDATs), is focused on the basic science underpinning high-energy anodes, solid electrolytes, dense cathodes and the interfaces in such systems. Creating the next-generation of technologies to enable safe, reliable, and high-performance energy storage is the goal of this foundational research.
Working with scientists from the US Army Core of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), the Illinois team includes Materials Science and Engineering professors Paul Braun, David Cahill, Jessica Krogstad, Nicola Perry, and Nancy Sottos, and Mechanical Science and Engineering professor Elif Ertekin. All team members are affiliated with the Illinois Materials Research Laboratory with expertise in battery science (Braun), thermal and ion transport (Cahill), mechanics of thin films (Sottos), metal-oxide interfaces and interfacial reactions (Krogstad), solid oxides and ion transport in solids (Perry), and computational modeling (Ertekin).
Early efforts will look at 3D structured silicon anodes with high-energy densities, new ionic solid electrolytes, the effect of nanostructuring on ion-transport, and solid electrolyte/solid cathode interfaces.
“This grant will help us to investigate the properties at the interface of a dense high voltage-class cathode and solid electrolyte which enables a safer battery technology and yet, remains a fully unexplored field of research,” said Ben Zahiri, a postdoctoral associate in the Braun group.
“Furthering the understanding of ionic transport is both incredibly important and fascinating. I am excited to be part of the HEDATs team and to contribute to the science behind high energy density batteries,” said Colin Reedy, and graduate student in the Perry group.
“I am really interested to understand the fundamental coupling between mechanics and electrochemistry in 3D structured anodes, and I believe our team can make significant contributions to improve the mechanical stability of electrodes for long-term performance of high-energy batteries,” said Soheil Daryadel, a postdoctoral associate in the Krogstad group.