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Battery Materials Lab

battery lab with engineers working
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The Battery Materials Laboratory is at the forefront of electrochemical research, with a primary focus on the development, synthesis and scale-up of cutting-edge materials. Core objectives include creating novel cathode and anode materials specifically tailored for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, as well as producing materials for solid-state electrolytes. All these promise some combination of improved battery energy density, longer cycle life, and enhanced safety, which are vital for expanded adoption of electric vehicles and electric grid energy storage.

This lab also develops catalytic materials for fuel cell and electrolyzer systems. These catalysts play a pivotal role in enabling clean energy technologies such as hydrogen production and fuel cell-powered vehicles.

Researchers in the lab are pioneering recycling approaches for lithium-ion batteries. These efforts not only help reduce environmental impact but also extract valuable minerals from end-of-life batteries, contributing to a more circular economy.

Scientist dropping liquid from a beaker into a measurement instrument

Uniqueness and capabilities:

  • Advanced battery materials development: Designing and synthesizing innovative cathode and anode materials to enhance the performance of lithium- and sodium-ion batteries.
  • Catalyst development for clean energy: Creating efficient catalysts for fuel cell and electrolyzer systems, supporting the development of sustainable energy conversion technologies.
  • Solid-state electrolyte research: Developing solid electrolytes for next-generation batteries, with an emphasis on safety, energy density, and longevity.
  • Battery recycling and resource recovery: Generating methods for recycling lithium-ion batteries to extract valuable minerals and reduce environmental impact.
Two scientists in blue lab coats in battery lab, one holding a sample up while they discuss it

Technology resources:

  • A benchtop continuous stirred tank reactor for lithium- and sodium-ion cathode precursors provides morphology control and improved packing density.
  • Hydrothermal and solvothermal reactors produce spherical cathode precursors.
  • Muffle, tube and rotating tube furnaces offer precise and uniform thermal control, gas atmosphere capabilities, and scalability, making them indispensable for battery research involving material synthesis, heat treatment, and performance optimization.
  • Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) instruments assess battery materials by measuring their surface area and thermal stability, respectively.
  • A rheometer evaluates electrode slurries by measuring their viscosity and flow behavior, providing critical insights into electrode formulation and electrolyte properties for enhanced battery performance.