Anodes
The anode is a major component of any battery configuration, and next-generation anode designs are among the most promising and still-uncharted areas of lithium-ion battery research, especially for developing a high energy battery system. Currently, graphite is the main anode material used for commercial cells, which allows Li+ and other small metal ions to pass in and out during charge/discharge following a so-called “intercalation mechanism." However, the low intrinsic capacity of graphite has bottlenecked applications that demand high energy density, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and personal electronics. The Liu group is dedicated to resolving this challenge by developing advanced anode materials, including silicon and Li metal, for liquid and/or solid-state battery systems.