Design of advanced electrolytes for targeted applications, including fast charging

We design and develop novel electrolytes that enable faster and more efficient ion transport for advanced battery technologies. Aforementioned electrophoretic NMR techniques enable direct measurement of critical parameters like cationic transference numbers, which are notoriously difficult to assess by other methods. These measurements provide valuable insights into how electrolytes perform under non-equilibrium conditions such as experienced during rapid charging of devices. Through the development, testing, and screening of novel electrolyte compositions, we can identify the formulations most likely to overcome specific challenges. These efforts are key to developing batteries with enhanced electrochemical performance, reduced concentration gradients, and minimized degradation, which are important criteria for both grid-scale energy storage and electric vehicle applications.

Selected Publications

Lithium Transference in Electrolytes with Star-Shaped Multivalent Anions Measured by Electrophoretic NMR
Chakraborty, S.*; Halat, D. M.*; Im, J.; Hickson, D. T.; Reimer, J. A.; Balsara, N. P.. PCCP 25, 21065 (2023) * equal contribution [DOI]

Modifying Li+ and Anion Diffusivities in Polyacetal Electrolytes: A Pulsed-Field-Gradient NMR Study of Ion Self-Diffusion
Halat, D. M.; Snyder, R. L.; Sundararaman, S.; Choo, Y.; Gao, K. W.; Hoffman, Z. J.; Abel, B. A.; Grundy, L. S.; Galluzzo, M. D.; Gordon, M. P.; Celik, H.; Urban, J. J.; Prendergast, D.; Coates, G. W.; Balsara, N. P.; Reimer, J. A.. Chem. Mater. 33, 4915–4926 (2021) [DOI]