PhD Dissertation Defense: Minal Wable

Minal Wable, Ph.D. Candidate

Advisor: Özgür Çapraz

Title: Investigation of Chemo-Mechanical Deformations in Transition-Metal Oxide Cathodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Abstract:

Li-ion batteries dominate the energy storage landscape but rely on costly and supply-chain constrained elements such as Li, Co, and Ni. Na-ion batteries (NIBs) are an attractive alternative for grid storage and short-range electric vehicles, since sodium is abundant and widely distributed. However, NIBs still face performance challenges, including lower energy density, capacity fading, and limited rate capabilities. During repeated Na+ extraction and insertion, changes in Na+ concentration within the electrode materials lead to chemo-mechanical instabilities due to structural and interfacial degradation, which contribute to poor capacity retention. Understanding these chemo-mechanical instabilities is therefore important for improving the performance and stability of NIBs. Layered transition-metal oxides (TMOs) are promising NIB cathodes because of their theoretical capacity, tunable structures, and scalable synthesis. However, structural and chemo-mechanical instabilities during cycling limit their performance and are not fully understood. This work investigates these instabilities using operando mechanical measurements combined with electrochemical, morphological, structural, and chemical characterization, progressing from single-TMOs to multi-TMOs. 

Location: TBD

Agenda:

12:45 am EST - Welcome / Room Opens

1:00 pm EST - Presentation followed by questions from the audience. 

After the questions from the public, the meeting will be closed for the committee discussion.

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