Materials (Energy Materials Group)
The development of battery materials with higher energy density, higher power density, better safety, lower cost, and faster charging is needed to further the electrification of the transport and energy sectors.
The research group is looking into the development of several different chemistries, including lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and solid-state batteries. For lithium-ion batteries, there has been focus on nickel-rich cathode materials due to their higher energy density and the need to reduce reliance on unethically-sourced cobalt. Sodium-ion batteries are promising due to the relative abundance of sodium and their low cost compared to lithium-based batteries, despite a lower energy density they may prove to be a promising technology for stationary energy storage. Batteries using a solid electrolyte (ceramic or polymer gel) rather than an organic solvent are much safer; although they are not widely commercialised, rapid progress has been made to do so in the last few years.
The research group is looking into the development of several different chemistries, including lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and solid-state batteries. For lithium-ion batteries, there has been focus on nickel-rich cathode materials due to their higher energy density and the need to reduce reliance on unethically-sourced cobalt. Sodium-ion batteries are promising due to the relative abundance of sodium and their low cost compared to lithium-based batteries, despite a lower energy density they may prove to be a promising technology for stationary energy storage. Batteries using a solid electrolyte (ceramic or polymer gel) rather than an organic solvent are much safer; although they are not widely commercialised, rapid progress has been made to do so in the last few years.
An electric vehicle lithium battery pack