December 9, 2015, Research Highlights

An Investigation of the Ionic Conductivity and Species Crossover of Lithiated Nafion 117 in Nonaqueous Electrolytes

Solvent volume fraction within the membrane has the greatest effect on both conductivity and crossover; as a secondary effect, the charge on redox species modifies crossover rates in accordance with Donnan exclusion. Read More

December 7, 2015, Research Highlights

Phase-Controlled Electrochemical Activity of Epitaxial Spinel Thin films as Mg-Cathodes

Epitaxial thin film cathodes of MgMn2O4 (“MMO”) are stabilized in two distinct phases (tetragonal vs. cubic) which reveal distinct electrochemical activities for reversible Mg2+ insertion. Read More

December 2, 2015, Research Highlights

A Functional Impurity for Li-O2 Battery Cathode

Demonstrated that alkali metal can be used as a catalyst Li-O2 cell cathode design and opens the possibility of future optimization of functional K-doping in carbon cathode materials. Read More

December 1, 2015, Research Highlights

Strategy of the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research to Influence Laboratory Safety Among its Funded Researchers

JCESR strives to influence safe science among its researchers. Read More

November 24, 2015, Research Highlights

The First Ca-ion Rechargeable Battery

We have demonstrated the first ever rechargeable battery utilizing calcium as the working ion. Read More

November 9, 2015, Research Highlights

Investigation of Charge Transfer Mechanisms on Redox Active Polymers Using RDE and SECM

This study is a first step to evaluate rate determining processes on the electrochemical activity of RAPs. Using different electrochemical techniques we determined the presence of several preceding chemical steps. We also studied how the resulting RAP film mediates the charge transfer process and affects the electrochemical behavior of RAPs. Read More

October 30, 2015, Research Highlights

Evolutionary Design of Low Molecular Weight Organic Anolyte Materials for Applications in Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries

All-organic anolyte materials for nonaqueous redox flow batteries with high stability at all redox states were designed through an iterative study. Anolyte materials exhibit two chemically reversible reductions, have low equivalent weights of only 111 g/mol/e–, undergo reversible electro-chemistry in Li-ion supporting electrolytes, and are stable in solution for greater than 2 months without detectable decomposition. Read More

October 27, 2015, Research Highlights

Molecular Topology and Local Dynamics Govern the Viscosity of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids

A direct connection between molecular structure and liquid viscosity was made, and the latter was explained based on the former feature. Read More

October 15, 2015, Research Highlights

Evaluation of Tris-Bipyridine Chromium Complexes for Flow Battery Applications: Impact of Bipyridine Ligand Structure on Solubility and Electrochemistry

Synthesis of 24 Cr-bipyridine complexes across two different oxidation states; their solubility varies from insoluble to 0.7 M. Most of the complexes undergo reversible electrochemistry demonstrating up to six reversible redox couples. Read More

September 25, 2015, Research Highlights

Thermal Expansion in the Garnet-Type Solid Electrolyte (Li7-xAlx/3)La3Zr2O12 as a Function of Al Content

The study identified the lattice expansion lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZ), which is an important lithium-metal stable solid-state Li-ion diffusion ceramic membrane as a function of Al-content. Read More