Electrification is an important strategy towards achieving a sustainable society. Unbound by fundamental limits such as the Carnot efficiency, electrochemical systems can operate at efficiencies close to 100%. In addition, the availability of abundant and cheap renewable electricity has created a strong momentum for electrochemical technologies such as batteries for electric mobility. I believe that electrochemistry holds the potential to reshape many industries for a sustainable future. The first broad direction of my laboratory will be to deploy and develop analytical tools to extend the horizon of our molecular-level understanding of the electrolyte. The electrolyte is an indispensable component of any electrochemical system, and it can impact the electrochemical stability, reaction kinetics and transport properties. However, our understanding of the electrolyte lags behind its significance. We will develop analytical tools to characterize the solvation structure and thermodynamics of electrolytes. In addition, we will deploy advanced characterizations tools such as wide-angle X-ray scattering and cryo-electron microscopy to understand solvation behavior and correlate to electrolyte properties. The second broad direction will be to leverage these insights to design electrolytes and electrochemical systems for energy storage, CO2 capture and sustainable manufacturing. Energy storage, particularly for the grid, will be a key technology that enables the energy transition from fossil fuel-based into renewable technologies. CO2 capture is an essential strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and electrochemical methods can offer improved energy efficiencies from today’s thermochemical methods. Today’s metal production is highly inefficient and is a significant contributor to the global emissions, and we will develop new sustainable manufacturing schemes using electrochemistry.
To successfully conduct the proposed research, I will leverage my expertise in electrolyte and electrochemical device that I developed during my doctoral and postdoctoral training. My PhD research with Prof. Yi Cui has focused on electrolyte research for electrochemical energy storage. I developed analytical techniques to characterize battery electrolyte thermodynamics,1,2 and used thermodynamic principles and molecular level insights to design novel electrolytes such as high entropy electrolytes.3,4 In addition, I have also deployed machine learning models to analyze and design high-performance electrolytes.5 During my postdoctoral research with Prof. Steven Chu, I extended my expertise to electrochemical carbon capture, an area that I independently initiated in the group. We developed the pH-independent redox chemistry for electrochemical CO2 capture and achieved one of the highest energy efficiencies.6 Through these research endeavors I have gained a fundamental knowledge basis and expertise on methodologies for understanding electrolytes at the molecular scale. In addition, I have applied these insights on developing high-performance electrochemical systems, and I believe that these past experiences will guide my independent research.
Teaching Interests
Teaching is a major factor that fuels my aspiration to become a faculty member. Over the years of teaching, ranging from 1-on-1 tutoring to teaching graduate-level courses, I learned that it is some of the most fulfilling and enjoyable moments. In my ambition to become a better teacher, I completed the Stanford Postdoc Teaching Certificate, through which I have developed some teaching philosophies that will guide my pedagogy. A key value that will guide my teaching is clear communication. I deeply resonate with the quote by Prof. Richard Feynman: “If you cannot explain in simple terms, you don’t understand it.” I believe science could and should be communicated simply, and I have spent a great deal of time and effort to improve my communication. I also believe that understanding the historical context is important not only for the full appreciation, but also for the learning of the subject. For example, the pedagogy of thermodynamics, a subject that is akin to my heart, has historical context; when the subject was developed in the 19th century, the concept of molecules did not exist. I believe that understanding the context will allow for a better appreciation of the progression of the subject and an understanding of the nature of the subject. In addition to teaching, I have benefited from mentorship of some of the best scientific minds, and I am committed to giving back and fostering the next generation of scientists and engineers.
References
1. S. C. Kim, X. Kong, R. Vila, W. Huang, Y. Chen, D. T. Boyle, Z. Yu, H. Wang, Z. Bao, J. Qin, Y. Cui*, Potentiometric Measurement to Probe Solvation Energy and its Correlation to Lithium Battery Cyclability, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 27, 10301-10308 (2021)
2. H. Wang‡, S. C. Kim‡, T. Rojas‡, Y. Zhu, Y. Li, L. Ma, K. Xu, A. T. Ngo*, Y. Cui*, Correlating Li-ion Solvation Structures and Electrode Potential Temperature Coefficients, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 5, 2264-2271 (2021)
3. S. C. Kim‡, J. Wang‡, R. Xu, P. Zhang, Y. Chen, Z. Huang, Y. Yang, Z. Yu, S. T. Oyakhire, W. Zhang, L. G. Greenburg, M. S. Kim, D. T. Boyle, P. Sayavong, Y. Ye, J. Qin, Z. Bao, Y. Cui*, High Entropy Electrolytes for Practical Lithium Metal Batteries, Nat. Energy, 8, 814-826 (2023)
4. S. C. Kim‡, X. Gao‡, S.-L. Liao, H. Su, Y. Chen, W. Zhang, L. C. Greenburg, J.-A. Pan, X. Zheng, Y. Ye, M. S. Kim, P. Sayavong, A. Brest, J. Qin*, Z. Bao*, Y. Cui*, Solvation-Property Relationship of Lithium-Sulphur Battery Electrolytes, Nat. Commun., 15, 1268 (2024)
5. S. C. Kim‡, S. T. Oyakhire‡, C. Athanitis, J. Wang, Z. Zhang, W. Zhang, D. T. Boyle, M. S. Kim, Z. Yu, X. Gao, T. Sogade, E. Wu, J. Qin, Z. Bao, S. F. Bent*, Y. Cui*, Data-driven Electrolyte Design for Lithium Metal Anodes, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 120 (10) e2214357120 (2023)
6. S. C. Kim‡, M. Gigantino‡, J. E. Matthews, J. Chen, A. Heyer, Y. Dho, T. F. Jaramillo, Y. Cui, A. Majumdar, Y.-K. Tzeng, S. Chu* Electrochemical CO2 capture with pH-independent redox chemistry, Submitted