CARMEN ZOOM Link: https://osu.zoom.us/j/8227 68496
Abstract
The current lithium-ion batteries are not capable of meeting tomorrow’s ever-increasing
energy storage requirements for advanced transportation and portable electronics. Innovations in their performance, cost and safety are essential and can be achieved only by effectively combining fundamental materials research, device engineering and scalable manufacturing technologies. For instance, new energy storage systems with significantly higher specific energy and long cycle life must be developed if electric vehicles are to be widely adopted as replacements for gasoline-powered vehicles. However, the obtainable specific capacities of current electrode materials remain insufficient to meet these rigorous goals. Therefore, explorations of new materials and novel chemistries are urgently needed to go beyond incremental improvements in the energy density of existing batteries. In this regard, Silicon-based anodes and Chalcogen-based (Sulfur, Selenium, and Oxygen) cathodes have gained intense attention for next-generation batteries because they have the potential of providing much higher specific energy than those of existing lithium-ion batteries. However, there remain fundamental challenges for these systems to be considered as practically viable options. In this seminar, a brief discussion of scientific challenges and some latest developments in exploring electrodes for advanced batteries will be provided. In particular, I will describe our recent efforts to design/synthesize novel materials based on earth-abundant and sustainable resources and develop high-performance electrodes to dramatically enhance battery performance in order to meet the requirements of the rapidly progressing technologies.
About the Speaker
Dr. Min-Kyu Song received his Ph.D. degree (2011) in Materials Science & Engineering with a minor in Electrochemical Engineering from Georgia Tech, where he performed the research on the synthesis and characterization of novel materials (electrodes, catalysts and membranes) for energy storage and conversion. Prior to joining WSU in 2015, he conducted postdoctoral research (2012-2014) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (The Molecular Foundry, DOE Nanoscience Center). He also worked at Hyundai Motors Company (2001-2006) as a research engineer on the development of fuel cell systems for vehicle applications. He currently leads research activities centered on the design of functional materials and scalable manufacturing of nanostructures for emerging energy technologies such as next generation batteries, fuel cells and hydrogen production.
