Designing Electrolytes for Durable and Fast-Charging Alkali-Ion Batteries
| dc.contributor.author | Xia, Dawei | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Lin, Feng | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Liu, Guoliang | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Morris, Amanda | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Huang, Haibo | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Chemistry | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-05-21T08:03:05Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2025-05-21T08:03:05Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-05-19 | en |
| dc.description.abstractgeneral | Energy is one of the most fundamental topics in human development. The production, transfer, and storage of energy are integrated into every aspect of modern life. Traditionally, energy has been derived from fossil fuels. While fossil fuels have fueled economic growth for centuries, they have significant drawbacks, including environmental pollution and excessive carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. As a result, there is a growing shift toward clean and renewable energy technologies that offer a more sustainable future. One promising approach is solar energy, where photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity. However, renewable energy sources are often intermittent. To ensure efficient storage and rational utilization of this energy, batteries play a crucial role in modern energy storage solutions. In addition to grid-scale storage, batteries power our electronics and electric vehicles, integrated with circuit design. Batteries have a long history, traced back to 19th century. Over time, various types have been developed, such as lead-acid batteries, alkaline primary batteries, redox flow batteries, and Li-ion batteries, etc. Owing to higher energy density in terms of both weight and volume than previous batteries, Li-ion batteries have become the dominant battery chemistry since the 1990s. They reliably power smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles, making them indispensable to modern society. As the demand for sustainable energy solutions continues to rise, advancements in battery technology are crucial, such as increasing capacity, extending lifespan, enabling faster recharging, and reducing environmental impact. Prior to optimization, it is essential to clarify the mechanisms of battery degradation in various scenarios. However, uncovering these underlying mechanisms is challenging, as batteries are complex systems where materials inside undergo mutually correlated chemical, physical, electrochemical, structural, mechanical, and morphological changes over time. Some changes occur at the nanoscale or in subtle quantity, making them difficult to quantify, predict, and manipulate. Among the many intricate aspects of batteries, one of the most critical factors affecting cycling life and fast charging is electrolyte. To address this grand challenge, I have dedicated the majority of my PhD research to investigating electrolyte-related phenomena across different length scales. Only through a broad and in-depth understanding of these phenomena can we design better electrolytes for high-performance rechargeable batteries. To achieve this, I have explored a vast range of electrolyte formulations, conducted extensive characterizations, and led collaborations with research groups specializing in simulations. Our efforts to bridge fundamental knowledge with battery performance have been recognized by the battery community. This work not only advances current Li-ion chemistry but also inspires the future development of next-generation clean energy technologies beyond Li-ion. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Doctor of Philosophy | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.identifier.other | vt_gsexam:43444 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10919/133540 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | Fast-charging batteries | en |
| dc.subject | ether electrolytes | en |
| dc.subject | solid-electrolyte interphase | en |
| dc.subject | ion solvation | en |
| dc.subject | intercalation chemistry | en |
| dc.title | Designing Electrolytes for Durable and Fast-Charging Alkali-Ion Batteries | en |
| dc.type | Dissertation | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Chemistry | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | doctoral | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Philosophy | en |
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