Guest Seminar - Lithium-Metal and Lithium-Free Batteries and Their In-Situ Characterizations
Supporting the below United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:支持以下聯合國可持續發展目標：支持以下联合国可持续发展目标：
Battery technology plays a pivotal role in achieving a decarbonized future by enabling renewable energy integration, ensuring grid stability, and advancing electrified transportation. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in enhancing the energy density, safety, and sustainability of batteries. Due to their high theoretical capacity (10 times that of commercial graphite anodes in Li-ion batteries), lithium (Li) metal anodes represent a promising solution. However, the commercialization of Li-metal batteries is hindered by Li dendrite formation, which degrades performance and poses safety risks. To address this challenge, they developed a series of cost-effective electrolyte additive strategies to prevent dendrite growth while maintaining compatibility with existing production processes. Further, by employing advanced techniques such as synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy and microscopy, they demonstrate a novel interface chemistry that enables safer ! and more efficient lithium batteries. In parallel, Prof. Zhang’s team is exploring alternative battery technologies beyond Li, such as zinc (Zn) and aluminum (Al) batteries, which offer improved sustainability and resource efficiency. Several representative works will be presented, addressing critical issues such as battery material design, component development, and cell assembly. The speaker will cover liquid batteries, flow batteries, and all-solid-state batteries.
Prof. Gaixia Zhang holds the Canada Research Chair and the Marcelle-Gauvreau Engineering Research Chair at École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), University of Québec, Montréal, Canada. She received her Ph.D. from Polytechnique Montréal and subsequently continued her research at Western University, General Motors (US), and INRS Canada.
Prof. Zhang’s research primarily focuses on the design and fabrication of functional materials and energy conversion/storage systems, including batteries, fuel cells, green hydrogen production, and CO2 reduction, as well as their integration into the power grid. Additionally, she is deeply interested in interface and device engineering, in-situ diagnostics of energy systems, and theoretical simulations. Prof. Zhang has extensive experience collaborating with industry partners such as GM, Toyota, Ballard Power Systems, EleQtrion, and Hydro Quebec. She is also a college member of the Roy! al Society of Canada (RSC) and serves on various committees for grant evaluations.