April 8, 2020, Research Highlights

Comparing Physical and Electrochemical Properties of Different Weave Patterns for Carbon Cloth Electrodes in Redox Flow Batteries

In situ and ex situ characterization is combined with electrochemical analysis to elucidate mass transport and fluid dynamic relationships in carbon cloth electrodes with different weave patterns (plain, 8-satin harness, and 2×2 basket). Read More

March 24, 2020, Research Highlights

The critical role of configurational flexibility in facilitating reversible reactive metal deposition from borohydride solutions

Calcium borohydride in tetrahydrofuran is effective at reversible multivalent metal deposition where magnesium borohydride is not because the more polarizable Ca2+ cation enables greater coordination flexibility resulting in enhanced formation of CaBH4+ produced via multimer intermediates. Read More

March 24, 2020, Research Highlights

Realistic ion dynamics through charge renormalization in nonaqueous electrolytes

We demonstrate that a computationally inexpensive modification non-polarizable force fields: charge renormalization, can harmonize computed and experimentally determined structure and dynamic attributes of nonaqueous electrolytes. It is sufficient to reproduce dynamics over range of 0-2 M salt while not sacrificing quality of structural properties. Read More

March 20, 2020, Research Highlights

Low-temperature paddlewheel effect in glassy solid electrolytes

The high conductivity exhibited by glassy sulfide solid electrolytes is demonstrated to arise from the dynamic coupling of cation migration events with anion reorientations. Read More

March 14, 2020, Research Highlights

Direct Characterization of Intermolecular Interactions in Redox-active Pyridinium-based Molecules

Our results show that charge transport in redox-active pyridinium-based molecules can be modulated by host-guest interactions and intermolecular electrostatic effects. Read More

March 11, 2020, Research Highlights

Understanding Zn2+ Charge-Storage Mechanism in Vanadium-based Na+ Superionic Conductor for Zn Batteries

Elucidated the complex, multivalent charge-storage behavior of Na3V2(PO4)3 with Na+ and Zn2+ insertion. Read More

March 4, 2020, Research Highlights

Combining SECM and AFM to Probe the Redoxmer-Electrode Interface

Dialkoxybenzene catholytes form electron transfer-limiting thin films preferentially on the basal plane of graphitic electrodes Read More

February 25, 2020, Research Highlights

Direct Nano-Synthesis Methods Notably Benefit Mg-Battery Cathode Performance

A novel Mg cathode material – CuCo2S4 – was identified as a conversion material where direct nano-synthesis was required to provide the best electrochemical performance and deliver 350 mAh·g-1 at 60 °C, a capacity nearly double that of ball-milled material with similar dimensions. Read More

February 24, 2020, Research Highlights

Quantifying Capacity Losses due to Solid Electrolyte Interphase Evolution

We quantified the capacity loss originating in solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth during each cycle and extracted the proportionality constant for SEI growth following a parabolic growth law. This continuous SEI growth contributes to the increasing overpotential, leading to capacity fading at a given constant current cycling rate. Read More

February 21, 2020, Research Highlights

Quantifying Environmental Effects on the Solution and Solid-State Stability of a Phenothiazine Radical Cation

This study underscores the need to match the stability testing conditions for a phenothiazine electroactive derivative for RFB application. For analysis of stability, RRDE voltammetry can be used to rapidly screen molecules over seconds or minutes, providing stability trends that are similar to results that require several weeks to obtain using UV−vis spectroscopy. Read More