(4py) Towards the Next Generation of Rechargeable Batteries

Research Interests:
Rechargeable batteries have played an important role in our daily lives, powering a wide range of devices from laptops and mobile phones to electric vehicles. Before the invention of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), a primary battery called lithium/thionyl chloride (Li/SOCl₂) battery was invented in the 1970s. Because of its high energy density, this type of battery has been widely used in various applications ranging from utility metering, GPS tracking, to military, etc. Despite the advantages of Li/SOCl₂ battery, such as high energy density and long shelf life, its non-rechargeability has significantly limited its applications. The main work that I accomplished during my PhD was to make the Li/SOCl₂ battery to become rechargeable for the first time in ~ 50 years and developed rechargeable sodium/chlorine (Na/Cl₂) and lithium/chlorine (Li/Cl₂) batteries (G. Zhu et al., Nature 596, 525-530 (2021)). Through innovations in the positive electrode materials and electrolyte composition, the resulting Cl₂ batteries have a discharge voltage of ~ 3.5 V and a cycling capacity of up to 1200 mAh g^-1, which is about six times higher than that of the current state-of-the-art LIBs.

After completing my PhD studies, I continued my research in Cl₂ batteries as a postdoctoral researcher. The first work that I accomplished in my postdoc was the discovery of graphite as the positive electrode material for Li/Cl2 battery (G. Zhu et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 144, 22505-22513 (2022)). After finishing my first postdoctoral work, I performed another detailed mechanistic study on Na/Cl₂ battery, in which I employed various techniques to obtain an in-depth understanding of the battery’s operating mechanism (G. Zhu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 120, e2310903120 (2023)). Lastly, I also examined the performance of Li/Cl₂ battery at low temperatures. In this work, I discovered that Li/Cl₂ battery was able to operate at a temperature of as low as -80^oC with an improved cycling capacity of up to 5000 mAh g^-1, and the battery was able to power a digital watch at -40^oC for more than half a year after a single charging (P. Liang and G. Zhu et al., Adv Mater, 22505-22513 (2023)).

Building on my past rigorous research experience, my future research group will continue to work in the field of rechargeable batteries. In particular, we will explore novel chemistry and investigate new electrode materials, separator materials, and electrolyte to further improve the energy density, cycle life, and safety of current state-of-the-art rechargeable batteries.

Teaching Interests:
My background in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science has equipped me with the ability to teach various chemical engineering courses involving principles, kinetics, and thermodynamics. In addition, throughout my PhD and postdoc career, I have gained a lot of hands-on experience in operating various instruments, so I am well-prepared to teach different laboratory courses. During my PhD studies, I served as a teaching assistant for various chemistry courses. I have always found immense satisfaction in witnessing students grasp challenging course materials, and I look forward to the opportunity of teaching younger generations as an instructor to help them appreciate the beauty of sciences.