Li-ion Batteries are critically important for reducing the world’s reliance on fossil fuel sources of power and slowing the rate of anthroprogenic climate change. Several groups at USC are performing fundamental work to elucidate the mechanism for the diffusion of Li-ions through the batteries used in electric vehicles and consumer electronics devices. Other areas include the development of Mixed Conduction Membranes (MCMs) that block the diffusion of soluble polysulfides from the sulfur cathode to the lithium anode while selectively allowing the facile transport of lithium ions, drastically improving the number of times the batteries can be cycled and the amount of energy that can be stored.
Active Faculty
Group
Sri Narayan
Barry Thompson
Brent Melot
Richard Brutchey
Ananya Balakrishna
Research Interests
Hybrid separators to enhance performance of Li-S batteries
Electronically conductive electrode binders
Development of higher energy- and power-density electrodes
Preparation of nanoscale electrode materials
Physics-based modeling of Li-ion intercalation