Research Area

In many applications, energy density and low-temperature performance are two key metrics that state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries have significant difficulty meeting. In recent years, a lot of focus has been placed on the use of the Li-metal anode in combination with high voltage cathodes to dramatically increase the energy densities of batteries. Actual use of these systems has been hampered due to the unavailability of electrolytes that are compatible with the Li-metal anode while at the same time resistant to degradation at the high voltage cathode. Our liquefied gas electrolyte work focuses on gases that are promising candidates to achieve the stability required at both the anode and cathode in these aggressive, high voltage systems. At low temperatures or moderate pressures, these gases liquefy and can dissolve lithium salts to form liquefied gas electrolytes. These electrolytes have shown impressive compatibility with the Li-metal anode, and very good stability with high voltage cathodes as well as dramatically improved low temperature performance down to -60C.

Through experimental and computational approaches, our research has focused on the interesting solvation and transport mechanisms of the bulk electrolyte as well as the interfaces formed on both anodes and cathodes. Our work has opened a new area of research in the energy storage field and we hope to see new materials and manufacturing methods developed from the idea of using these gaseous solvents.

Highlighted Publications:

1. Y. Yang, Y. Yin, D. M. Davies, M. Zhang, M. Mayer, Y. Zhang, E. S. Sablina, S. Wang, J. Z. Lee, O. Borodin, C. S. Rustomji and Y. S. Meng, “Liquefied gas electrolytes for wide-temperature lithium metal batteries“, Energy Environ. Sci. 2020, 13, 2209 – 2219

2. Y. Yang, D. M. Davies, Y. Yin, O. Borodin, J. Z. Lee, C. Fang, M. Olguin, Y. Zhang, E. S. Sablina, X. Wang, C. S. Rustomji and Y. S. Meng, “High-Efficiency Lithium-Metal Anode Enabled by Liquefied Gas Electrolytes“, Joule , 3, 1–15, 2019

3. C. S. Rustomji, Y. Yang, T. K. Kim, J. Mac, Y. J. Kim, E. Caldwell, H. Chung, Y. S. Meng, “Liquefied Gas Electrolytes for Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices“, Science, 2017, 356, 1351