May 31, 2019, Research Highlights

Intercalation of Magnesium into a Layered V2O5

Layered a-V2O5 reversibly intercalates 1 Mg2+ per unit formula to achieve 280 mAh/g at 110°C in a chemically and anodically stable ionic liquid electrolyte. Read More

May 2, 2019, Research Highlights

Widening Electrochemical Window of Mg Salt by Weakly Coordinating Perfluoroalkoxyaluminate Anion for Mg Battery Electrolyte

Mg[Al{OC(CF3)3}4]2 (Mg[TPFA]2 ) with perfluorinated, e- deficient anions ([TPFA]−) possesses high thermodynamic oxidative stability with high coulombic efficiency for Mg plating/stripping. Read More

April 9, 2019, Research Highlights

First-principles Exploration of Stability and Associated Decomposition Mechanisms of Solvents in Mg Energy Storage

Obtained a deeper understanding of the chemical and electrochemical stability governing the suitability of several organic solvents commonly considered for Mg battery electrolytes. Read More

March 29, 2019, Research Highlights

Direct Observation of MgO Formation at the Cathode-Electrolyte Interface of a Spinel MgCo2O4 Cathode upon Electrochemical Mg+2 Removal and Insertion

We have been exploring the versatility and mechanism of Mg insertion into several transition metal spinel compounds and correlating the results with electron count. In this publication we established that the MgCo2O4 works by a conversion mechanism – MgO extraction and precipitation as the primary electrochemical activity with loss of oxide and reduction of cobalt. System characterization was complicated by the observed solid solution between MgCo2O4 – Co3O4 but overcome by utilizing a variety of techniques to fully characterize the materials synthesized. Read More

February 26, 2019, Research Highlights

Fluoride Doping Enhances Lithium Diffusivity in Layered Molybdenum Oxide

By fluoride doping MoO3 to MoO2.8F0.2 the reversibility of lithium intercalation could be greatly increased and a sluggish intercalation step could be bypassed. Read More

December 13, 2018, Research Highlights

Solvation Structure and Dynamics of Li+ in Ternary Ionic Liquid-Lithium Salt Electrolytes

The local structure of Li+ in this eutectic is found to be heterogenous and preferentially solvated by [DCA], which is related to the transport properties. Read More

December 3, 2018, Research Highlights

Tailoring the Electrochemical Activity of Magnesium Chromium Oxide Towards Mg Batteries Through Control of Size and Crystal Structure

Reversible magnesium removal from MgCr2O4 was induced by nanosizing and introducing significant structural defects to reduce diffusion the distance and overcome the activation energy barrier. Read More

October 29, 2018, Research Highlights

Simulation and Measurement of Water-induced Liquid-liquid Phase Separation of Imidazolium Ionic Liquid Mixtures

Computationally predicted liquid-liquid phase equilibrium confirmed by experimental measurements. Read More

July 30, 2018, Research Highlights

Rational Design of Stable Multivalent Electrolytes and Interphases

Demonstrated a strategy for expanding the electrochemical stability window for magnesium batteries through predictive anion design while discovering new mechanisms of interphase formation. Read More

July 30, 2018, Research Highlights

Real-Time Monitoring of Cation Dissolution/Deintercalation Kinetics from Transition-Metal Oxides in Organic Environments

A new method that allows in situ, real-time monitoring of dissolution rates of transition metal cations from oxide cathode hosts, as well as monitoring of deintercalation of the working cation (Li, Mg, Zn, etc.) simultaneously with electrochemical cycling. Read More