College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Materials Engineering Department
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Materials Engineering Department
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Materials Engineering Department
Advisor
Dr. Seamus Jones, College of Engineering, Materials Engineering
Funding Source
This research was funded by Seth Taylor and Chevron.
Date
10-2025
Abstract/Summary
Progress toward durable and energy-dense lithium-ion batteries has been hindered by instabilities at electrolyte–electrode interfaces, leading to poor cycling stability, and by safety concerns associated with energy-dense lithium metal anodes. Organic Solid electrolytes (OSEs) can help mitigate these issues; however, OSE conductivity is often limited by sluggish dynamics through rubbery domains. Recent work has suggested that zwitterionic OSEs can self-assemble into superionically conductive domains, permitting decoupling of ion motion and liquid rearrangement timesscales. Although crystalline domains are conventionally detrimental to ion conduction in SPEs, we this work suggests that properly designed semicrystalline OSEs with labile ion–ion interactions and tailored ion sizes can exhibit excellent lithium conductivity (1.6 mS/cm) and selectivity (t+ ≈ 0.6–0.8). In this summer research, I will seek to further understand how to optimize zwitterionic OSEs towards this goal. Firstly, we will characterize the phase diagram of zwitterion/salt blends to understand the self-assembled structures that are present in these blends. Secondly we will utilize impendence spectroscopy to understand the transport properties of the resulting blends. Finally we will integrate the best electrolytes in full-stack LIB designs to demonstrate the ability of these electrolytes to enable stable lithium plating/stripping reactions necessary for battery operation.
October 1, 2025.
Included in
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/ceng_surp/177