Research Philosophy

Materials and assembly for Lithium-ion chemistry has been a practical and intriguing field to study. The development of materials for energy applications requires mastery of material chemistry, as well as in-depth knowledge of system requirements, and my laboratory combines synthetic chemistry, composite engineering and electrochemistry to solve interdisciplinary problems. My lab’s current research in battery and energy storage includes silicon materials and electrode binders for advanced lithium-ion battery, lithium-sulfur battery, solid-state battery, and electrode interfaces. One focus of our research is to synthesize new materials and develop new assembly approaches to improve the energy density, increase life, and lower the cost of  lithium-ion batteries for vehicular applications. My lab also performs research in hydrogen generation, plastic recycling, and advanced manufacturing.

Research Interests

• Lithium-ion rechargeable battery: advanced electrode design and formulation, silicon-based anode materials, electrode binder design and synthesis, electrolyte and additives.

• Lithium-sulfur battery: advanced sulfur electrode design, novel amphiphilic electrolyte and lithium metal anode protections.

• Solid-state rechargeable battery: novel composite ion conductor and cathode electrode design, and scalable processing.

• Circular economy: environmentally friendly up-recycling of polymeric materials.

• Materials for climate resilience: smart materials to mitigate human suffering of extreme heat, flooding and forest fires.

• Biocompatible materials and biologically-inspired materials

• Expertise in organic and polymer synthesis, and polymer composite technology: development of new polymers, composite materials and structures; study structure-function relationship between materials and interfaces to understand their fundamental properties in systems; application of broad-based knowledge of the composite system to improve the energy and materials performance in the field.

Visiting and Getting in Touch

Berkeley Lab is one of 17 National Labs operated by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Lab is located in a secure area above the University of California, Berkeley campus. Visitors must have a sponsor to enter the site.

Address & Phone / Fax

Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division
Energy Technologies Area
1 Cyclotron Road, MS 70R0108B
Berkeley, CA 94720
Phone: (510) 486-4202

Access

A scientist or staff member must sponsor your visit to Berkeley Lab. For more information, including how to get here, building access, gate information and more, please visit: ps.lbl.gov/site-access/

Maps and Directions to Berkeley Lab

www2.lbl.gov/Workplace/Transportation.html

Locate an Employee

Berkeley Lab Staff Directory: phonebook.lbl.gov
Energy Technologies Area Staff Directory: eta.lbl.gov/staff
Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division Staff: esdr.lbl.gov/staff
Gao Liu Research Lab Staff: liulab.lbl.gov/people

Questions?

Please contact Dr. Chen Fang, Postdoctoral Researcher, Gao Liu Lab, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division.