CBE colloquia  - Multiscale Dynamic Phase Transformations in Batteries and Electrocatalysis

Efficient battery operation relies on the facile transport of lithium ions within the microstructure of individual particles and across the porous composite electrode network. During cycling, the spatial distribution of lithium ions can become significantly perturbed, potentially leading to the formation of distinct lithium-rich and lithium-poor phases. This heterogeneity, along with the resulting phase separation, poses substantial challenges to battery longevity and operational efficiency. It also complicates the accurate modeling and interpretation of battery kinetics.
In this talk, I will introduce the in-situ characterization technologies our team has developed to monitor lithium-ion movement within battery particles and electrodes. Insights from our experiments have revealed the origins of cycling hysteresis and informed the development of electrochemical protocols that mitigate dynamic phase separation during high-rate operation. In the final part of my presentation, I will demonstrate how phase transition dynamics in electrocatalysis - specifically during the oxygen evolution and CO₂ conversion reactions - can be monitored and controlled.