Research Highlights
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Critical Role of Structural Order in Bipolar Redox‐Active Molecules for Organic Redox Flow Batteries
Bipolar redox-active molecules have been suggested as a means to address crossover related issues in all-organic redox flow batteries. The present work describes a fundamental rubric to uncover the likely origins in the performance metrics of these bipolar molecules that are salient for their use in redox flow batteries. Read More
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Counterion-dependent charge transport in viologens
Our results show that charge transport in viologens critically relies the electrochemical environment and is particularly sensitive to the electrolyte counteranion. We use an electrochemical gating technique to understand charge transport in viologens as a function of the redox state and electrochemical environment. Molecular modeling shows that differences in charge transport arise from counterion-induced variations in molecular geometries. Read More
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Quantifying and Suppressing Proton Intercalation to Enable High-Voltage Zn-Ion Batteries
The relative contributions of Zn2+ and H+ insertion to the overall capacity of VPO4F are differentiated and quantified in aqueous and hybrid electrolytes. Increasing the salt concentration and/or proportion of nonaqueous solvent successfully suppresses water dynamics, improving the anodic stability and promoting Zn2+ intercalation over competing processes. Read More
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Highly efficient charge transport at molecule-electrode interfaces
Our results show that resonant transport offers a highly efficient intramolecular charge transport mechanism that will enable long-range transport in electronic devices. We further develop a general quantitative relation to describe the non-resonant to resonant transition voltage VT as a function of molecular properties. Read More
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Toward Unraveling the Origin of Lithium Fluoride in the Solid Electrolyte Interphase
We revealed the origin of LiF in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) using a multimodal experimental and theoretical approach and found that LiF nucleated via the electrocatalytic transformation of HF followed by significant direct anion reduction. Read More
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Temperature Dependence of Ion Transport Properties in PEO Electrolytes
We measured the temperature dependence of ion transport properties in PEO/LITFSI electrolytes across a range of salt concentrations. Using these results, we were able to predict how concentration polarization changes with temperature. Read More
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Water or Anion? Zn2+ Solvation Environment in Mixed Zn2+/Li+ Water-in-Salt Electrolytes
Zn2+ cations are mainly solvated by six waters in their first solvation shell, while TFSI- anions are excluded from solvation in the WISE electrolyte consisting of 1 m Zn(TFSI)2 and 20 m LiTFSI although the TFSI- concentration is as high as 22 m. Read More
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Ion Transport in Block Copolymer Electrolyte Affected by Distortion of Lamellae Domains under DC Polarization
We studied the structure of block copolymer electrolyte using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) during direct current (dc) polarization and observed the distortion of the lamellae domain spacing d to accommodate the salt concentration gradient. Read More
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Simultaneously Enhancing the Redox Potential and Stability of Multi-Redox Organic Catholytes by Incorporating Cyclopropenium Substituents
High redox potential, two-electron organic catholytes for non-aqueous redox flow batteries were developed by appending diaminocyclopropenium (DAC) substituents to phenazine and phenothiazine cores. Read More
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In situ/operando soft x-ray spectroscopy of chemical interfaces in gas and liquid environments
In situ/operando soft x-ray spectroscopy characterizations of interfacial phenomena reveal the mechanism of charge transfer and chemical transformations of solid/gas and solid/liquid interfaces of energy storage and catalytic materials in realistic environments. The unique design of the instrumentation, the fabrication principle and examples of experiments are presented. Read More
Latest Updates
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JCESR-supported research makes cover of Science: New electrolyte bolsters rechargeable battery design
This press release was authored by the A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland. The energy contained within lithium-ion batteries has the potential to reshape the technology of the future battlefield, creating a worldwide demand for key lithium-ion battery materials … Read More
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Critical Role of Structural Order in Bipolar Redox‐Active Molecules for Organic Redox Flow Batteries
Bipolar redox-active molecules have been suggested as a means to address crossover related issues in all-organic redox flow batteries. The present work describes a fundamental rubric to uncover the likely origins in the performance metrics of these bipolar molecules that are salient for their use … Read More
-
Counterion-dependent charge transport in viologens
Our results show that charge transport in viologens critically relies the electrochemical environment and is particularly sensitive to the electrolyte counteranion. We use an electrochemical gating technique to understand charge transport in viologens as a function of the redox state and electrochemical environment. Molecular modeling … Read More
-
Quantifying and Suppressing Proton Intercalation to Enable High-Voltage Zn-Ion Batteries
The relative contributions of Zn2+ and H+ insertion to the overall capacity of VPO4F are differentiated and quantified in aqueous and hybrid electrolytes. Increasing the salt concentration and/or proportion of nonaqueous solvent successfully suppresses water dynamics, improving the anodic stability and promoting Zn2+ intercalation over … Read More
-
Highly efficient charge transport at molecule-electrode interfaces
Our results show that resonant transport offers a highly efficient intramolecular charge transport mechanism that will enable long-range transport in electronic devices. We further develop a general quantitative relation to describe the non-resonant to resonant transition voltage VT as a function of molecular properties. Read More
