Advances in energy storage are a critical aspect of the effort to convert the world to clean energy sources as electrification increases. For applications such as electric vehicles, lithium ion batteries are the best technology available but need to be improved upon further to meet energy density and power demands. Anode-less lithium batteries are extremely promising for drastically increasing energy density and rate capabilities, yet dendrite formation leading to rapid failure remain an obstacle in their implementation. My research will focus on designing ultrathin (<50 micron) 3D current collectors, altering both geometry and chemistry, and examining the mechanism of lithium electrodeposition. The findings will advance fundamental knowledge of how lithium plates and strips on dissimilar surfaces and guide future studies into enabling cycle stability in lithium metal-based batteries.
Advisor: Jihui Yang – Materials Science & Engineering