Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate Research Areas

Chemistry and Characterizations of New Materials for Electrochemical Power Sources

Advisor: Xu, Conrad K. (Conrad.xu@us.army.mil 301-394-0321)
Keywords: New salts; Interface kinetics; Power source; Li ion battery; Electrode; Electrolyte; New solvents; Electrochemical stability; Interface chemistry; Nanobiotechnology

This research opportunity involves both the development of new materials that are designed to improve the performances of the state-of-the-art power and energy devices and the efforts to understand the limiting factors that govern the chemistry and kinetics on fundamental level. The devices of interest include lithium-based batteries, electrochemical capacitors, and fuel cells, while the focus will be on the synthesis and characterization of new electrolyte solvents/salts, novel fabrication of electrode materials through biotemplating techniques, as well as studies on the interface chemistry and mechanism. A wide spectrum of knowledge and skills are needed in these interdisciplinary fields covering chemistry, materials, nanotechnology, and biosciences.

Reference
Xu K, et at: Journal of Physical Chemistry C 111: 7411, 2007