Research Area

Research into inexpensive, long lifetime, grid energy storage options is increasingly important as we move to sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind. Sodium ion batteries are an exciting, inexpensive option for grid storage. The components of sodium ion batteries can be made with inexpensive elements such as manganese, iron, and carbon. While initial results show that sodium ion batteries have relatively high energy density, improvements in energy density and lifetime are necessary to make them a viable option.

To improve sodium ion batteries energy density and lifetime, we are studying the mechanism of energy storage in both the cathode and anode including material degradation and irreversible reactions. We use the many tools at our disposal, including novel synthesis methods and advanced characterization techniques. These advanced characterization techniques (XRD, TEM, FIB, NMR, synchrotron instruments, etc.) allow us to “see” what is happening inside the battery from atomic to macro scale. On the cathode side we are researching the irreversible reactions in high capacity inexpensive materials and how to increase the capacity by utilizing oxygen redox. On the anode side we are studying the irreversible reactions and how to increase their life time. We aim to determine the mechanism of energy storage in sodium ion batteries and use this knowledge to build better ones.

Highlighted Publications:

1. H. S. Hirsh, Y. Li, D. H. S. Tan, M. Zhang, E. Zhao and Y. S. Meng, “Sodium-Ion Batteries Paving the Way for Grid Energy Storage“, Adv. Energy Mater. 2020, 2001274

2. H. Hirsh, M. Olguin, H. Chung, Y. Li, S. Bai, D. Feng, D.Wang, M. Zhang and Y. S. Meng, “Meso-Structure Controlled Synthesis of Sodium Iron-Manganese Oxides Cathode for Low-Cost Na-Ion Batteries“, Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2019, 166 (12) A2528

3. H. Li, H. Tang, C. Ma, Y. Bai, J. Alvarado, B. Radhakrishnan, S. P. Ong, F. Wu, Y. S. Meng, and C. Wu “Understanding the Electrochemical Mechanisms Induced by Gradient Mg2+ Distribution of Na-Rich Na3+xV2–xMgx(PO4)3_C for Sodium Ion Batteries” Chem. Mater., 2018, 30 (8), 2498

4. M. D. Radin, J. Alvarado, Y. S. Meng, and A. V. der Ven “Role of Crystal Symmetry in the Reversibility of Stacking-Sequence Changes in Layered Intercalation Electrodes”,Nano Letters, 2017, 17(12), 7789

5. J. Alvarado, C. Ma, S. Wang, K. Nguyen, M. Kodur, and Y. S. Meng, “Improvement of the Cathode Electrolyte Interphase on P2-Na2_3Ni1_3Mn2_3O2 by Atomic Layer Deposition“ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2017, 9(31), 26518

6. C. Ma, J. Alvarado, J. Xu, R. J. Clément, M. Kodur, W. Tong, C. P. Grey, and Y. S. Meng,”Exploring Oxygen Activity in the High Energy P2-Type Na0.78Ni0.23Mn0.69O2 Cathode Material for Na-Ion Batteries“, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139(13), 4835