Event
Ph.D. Research Proposal Exam: Boyang Liu
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
1:00 p.m.
AVW 2168
Maria Hoo
301 405 3681
mch@umd.edu
ANNOUNCEMENT: Ph.D. Research Proposal Exam
Name: Boyang Liu
Committee:
Professor Liangbing Hu (Chair)
Professor Alireza Khaligh
Professor Martin Peckerar
Date/time: Wednesday, November 1, 2017/ 1:00 pm ~3:00 pm
Location: AVW 2168
Title: Advanced Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries with High Safety and Performance
Abstract:
Solid-state electrolytes (SSE) provide a great approach to solve the issues associated with thermal runaway and short circuiting in lithium metal batteries by blocking the migration of unwanted active materials and the penetration of Li dendrites. However, several challenges remain that impede solid electrolyte implementation in practical applications, including high interfacial resistance between electrolyte and electrodes and the integration of SSE into full solid-state batteries.
In my Ph.D. research, I am interested in understanding the chemical and electrochemical stability of inorganic and polymer solid electrolytes with various electrodes, designing highly conductive flexible electrolytes, and developing high-energy solid-state batteries. Inorganic garnet-type Li7La3Zr2O12 SSE with high overall stability to Li metal will be applied for bulk batteries with high energy density. Flexible electrolytes composed of polymer and ceramic fillers will be applied for flexible batteries with improved energy density.
My plan of work includes four tasks: (i) to understand the interfaces between garnet and the electrodes to specifically mitigate the interfacial resistance by surface modification, (ii) to develop flexible solid electrolytes and study its stability with electrodes, (iii) to develop and evaluate Li metal batteries with high energy based on garnet electrolyte with controllable structures, and (iv) to develop and evaluate flexible batteries based on flexible solid electrolytes. In the past two years, I have studied and proposed strategies using polymer or metal oxide interlayers for conductive garnet/Li anode interfaces. I have also studied ion transport of an integrated Li anode in a designed 3D structural garnet framework. Based on these works, I have successfully addressed the major challenges of the garnet electrolyte interface with a Li metal anode. In my future work, I will continue to study the interfaces between cathodes, like Li(NiMnCo)O2 (NMC), and garnet SSE, design solid flexible electrolytes, and develop solid-state full cells using integrated NMC cathodes and Li metal anodes toward high energy density and high safety.
