Development composite electrode for next generation Li-ion batteries

Overview

Australia is rich in lithium battery materials and is poised to be the world leader in sustainable energy storage. The rapid growth in the automobile and energy sector created greater demand for high-performance Li-ion batteries with high energy density. Conventional Li-ion batteries utilise a graphite anode with a limited theoretical capacity. Therefore, we need to develop alternative electrode materials with high energy density and a longer lifespan.

Silicon (Si) has received attention owing to its high specific capacity at ambient temperature. s. However, rapid material degradation remains as a technical challenge without compromising stability and safety standards. One effective strategy to tackle this problem is to utilise nanosized Si with different morphologies or to hybridize Si with various carbonaceous materials.

Despite these advances, it's difficult to develop simple and scalable routines for producing Si-based anodes. Recently, we developed different procedures to prepare composite type electrode with high capacity and mechanical stability, demonstrating a great potential for practical applications.

Research activities

As part of this research, you will conduct experiments, characterise composite electrode materials and evaluate the performance of Li-ion batteries. Your research will take place in our processing labs, Central Analytical Research Facility (CARF) and Banyo facility.

Outcomes

Using advanced experiment and modelling techniques, this project aims to solve the material degradation problem in real electrochemical environment, and direct local industry in developing future rechargeable batteries.

Skills and experience

To be considered for this project, you'll need to have a background in one of the following disciplines:

• mechanical engineering
• materials science
• chemistry
• physics.

Keywords

• advanced materials
• energy storage
• Sustainability

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.