BATTERY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT AT MICHIGAN
Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility
University of Michigan Energy Institute
The University of Michigan is home to more than a dozen battery research labs, each using novel methods
in pursuit of the same goal: more efficient, sustainable, longer-lasting battery technology. The centerpiece of
Michigan battery research is the Battery Fabrication and Characterization Facility, located at the University of
Michigan Energy Institute. Below, you’ll find summaries of battery projects from researchers around the university.
Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility
Bart Bartlett
Neil P. Dasgupta
Using Chemical Synthesis to Drive
Advanced Battery Technologies
Atomically Precise Modification
of Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces
The Bartlett group develops synthetic protocols that can be
applied to new chemical compositions and materials. On the
application side, the group demonstrates that electrodes composed of these nanomaterials/electrolyte formulations show improved capacity and enhanced chemical stability compared to
those used in the current state-of-the art technologies.
Maximizing the electrical energy stored in — and drawing
high power from — rechargeable batteries requires scalable
preparative methods that generate high–purity materials in a
variety of sizes and shapes. Although low temperature synthesis methods known to generate nanoscale materials have been
adapted for promising candidates for Li-ion battery technology,
their electrochemical performance is often plagued by point defects, particle aggregation, and impurity phases — all of which
can be minimized if one has a thorough understanding of and appreciation for inorganic reaction chemistry. In addition, moving
to multivalent materials such as Mg2+ batteries to increase the
storage capacity requires new electrolyte formulations that are
stable against corrosion in the presence of stainless steel used as
battery cans in current manufacturing processes. Three classes
of materials currently under investigation in the Bartlett laboratory are: 1) high power manganese-based spinel nanoparticles
synthesized by hydrothermal methods; 2) high capacity titania
architectures prepared by hydrothermal synthesis followed by
aqueous work-up; 3) high stability phenol-ligated salts for magnesium-ion electrolytes.
Interfacial phenomena play a critical role in the performance and lifetime of batteries. Specific examples include capacity fade due to undesirable reactions at the electrode-electrolyte interface and morphological changes such as dendrite
formation in Li metal anodes. The Dasgupta group performs
fundamental and applied research on the modification of these
interfaces using nanoscale coatings with targeted electrochemical properties. The key enabling technique that is used is
Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), a vapor phase process allowing
for sub-nanometer precision in coating thickness and chemical
composition. ALD surface treatments have been shown to dramatically suppress capacity fade in traditional Li-ion battery materials, through engineering of “Artificial SEI” layers. However,
a fundamental understanding of the impact of interfacial modifications on battery performance requires significant research
breakthroughs in order to engineer solutions for a battery market where the chemical composition of both electrodes and
electrolytes is rapidly evolving. To address this challenge, the
Dasgupta group studies ALD modifications of electrode surfaces
using a wide range of chemistries, and performs in-depth chemical and electrochemical characterization of their performance.
As a recent example, the group demonstrated that ultrathin ALD
coatings on Li metal anodes can dramatically prevent dendrite
formation and improve electrode cycle life, which represents
a critical enabling technology for “beyond Li-ion” technologies
such as Li-sulfur and Li-air batteries. The group is also actively
developing all solid-state electrolyte materials by ALD based on
superionic materials with ionic conductivities comparable to liquid electrolytes. These materials would enable nanostructured
3-D all-solid-state batteries, with high capacities and rate performances, without the need for flammable and chemically unstable liquid electrolytes.
Seyhan N. Eğe Associate Professor of Chemistry
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
University of Michigan Energy Institute
John Kieffer
Rick Laine
Development of solid-state electrolytes for lithium
battery applications
Processing flame made metal oxide nano-powders to high density lithium ion conducting thin films: A step towards realizing
all-solid-state lithium batteries.
The development of novel materials is an enabling factor
for the advancement of technology. To accelerate the conception, fabrication, and deployment of materials with specific functionalities, the Kieffer lab pursues a simulation-based predictive
design approach, i.e., the group devises the methodology, computational framework, and workflow, and applies these tools
to develop new materials for energy applications. The Kieffer
group’s repertoire includes first-principles quantum mechanical
calculations for the prediction of the electronic structure and
charge carrier mobility in organic molecules, reactive molecular dynamics simulations to study the self-assembly behavior of
these molecules, and hybrid Monte Carlo/molecular dynamics
techniques to investigate structural developments and processes that occur on long time scales. To validate simulation-based
predictions, they also carry out experimental measurements of
structural dynamics and molecular transport phenomena using
dielectric impedance spectroscopy and inelastic light scattering. For the latter the group established a unique resource for
concurrent Raman and Brillouin light scattering measurements,
allowing the simultaneous monitoring of the chemistry and visco-elastic properties of reacting systems at the nano-scale and
in situ, without mechanical contact. Finally, the group fabricates
nano-porous hybrid organic-inorganic materials, including aerogels, using sol-gel synthesis techniques.
The Laine group develops processing routes to high-density
metal oxide lithium ion conducting thin films using a non-traditional casting method. It is well known that the potential safety
hazards of the current lithium batteries originate from the organic liquid electrolytes. Replacing the liquids with solids diminishes not only safety concerns but allows for higher energy-density batteries using lithium metal as an anode.
Several families of solid lithium electrolytes contain sulfide
and oxides. Two classes of materials are under intense investigation: 1. LiTi2(PO4)3 based oxide electrolytes; 2. Li7La3Zr2O12 based
lithium conducting garnet electrolytes.
Nanopowders of selected compositions are produced by liquid-feed flame spray pyrolysis (LF-FSP) method and subsequently
processed to films (10-40 µm) by casting and sintering. The main
challenge of sintering lithium containing oxides is the volatility of lithium at temperatures >1000 °C, resulting in lithium deprived phases. Hence, optimization of particle sizes, suspension
compositions, heating schedules, and sintering aids are mandated to minimize high temperatures exposure of the sample films
while still reaching close to theoretical densities.
The Laine group is also exploring synthesis of lithium battery
cathode materials such as LiCoPO4 or LiMn2O4 through LF-FSP
method; these are processed in a similar manner to electrolyte
films. The group aims to mate these with the dense solid electrolytes.
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility
Professor of Materials Science & Engineering and
Macromolecular Science & Engineering
Christian Lastoskie
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Maximizing the sustainability of lithium-ion batteries
Research on next-generation lithium batteries in the Lastoskie research group applies advanced computational and mathematical modeling methods to identify battery compositions,
nanostructures, and manufacturing approaches that extend battery cycle life and energy density, while minimizing the environmental footprint for battery production and use.
Dissolution of transition metals, particularly manganese,
from the cathode active material of lithium ion battery cells is a
principal mechanism of capacity fade and reduced battery life.
Using first-principles density functional theory calculations, reactive force fields (ReaxFF) are developed to describe manganese reaction and transport at the solid-electrolyte interface
(SEI) boundaries of electrochemical cells comprised of a metal
oxide cathode (e.g., lithium manganese oxide) and an intercalating anode (e.g., graphite). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations
are then carried out using ReaxFF to identify mechanisms of active material dissolution at the cathode surface; to characterize
the composition of the SEI layer formed by deposition at the
anode boundary (Figure 1); and to evaluate strategies for active
material loss via electrolyte substitution or electrode coatings.
In a related project, ReaxFF MD simulations are performed in
concert with experimental synthesis, characterization, and testing to develop new mesoporous carbon nano-composite cathodes for high-capacity poly-oxyanionic active materials. Molecular modeling guides the design of embedding carbon matrix of
the composite cathode so as to increase the active surface area
(and thereby, the ionic diffusivity) of otherwise poorly conductive active materials.
Lamination technologies used to produce present-generation lithium ion batteries are limited by large capital investment
needed for multiple unit operations, high solvent use, and an
inability to exert control over active material morphology. Advancements in thin-film solid-state processing, using vacuum
coating, hold promise to overcome these challenges to produce
high-energy density batteries that contain no liquid electrolyte,
and are therefore safer and longer-lasting than conventional
cells. Life cycle assessments of battery production using lamination and thin-film vacuum vapor deposition are conducted to
comparatively evaluate the environmental sustainability of batteries manufactured using lamination and solid-state processing. Cumulative energy demand and global warming potential
for battery electric vehicle mobility using packs with solid-state
cells are projected to be 25 to 65% lower than that incurred using packs with laminated cells.
University of Michigan Energy Institute
Wei Lu
Emmanuelle Marquis
Battery Characterization, Modeling and Optimization
Development of new experimental analysis techniques for
atomic-scale phenomena in battery materials
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Director, Advanced Battery Coalition for Drivetrains
The research of Professor Lu’s group spans the gap between battery materials synthesis and vehicle integration. Efforts include battery
characterization and testing, multiscale modeling of batteries particularly the degradation behavior, optimization of battery structures
and performance, and design of new methodologies for smart battery
management. His research integrates experimental studies, modeling
and simulation. The mission of his group is to create validated battery
material, cell, and pack models, to speed their insertion into advanced
electrified drivetrains, and to educate successive generations of industrial and academic workers to execute the resulting technology plans.
The prediction of capacity fade and optimization of battery lifetime is important for cell design, optimal control, management and
maintenance. Various mechanisms contribute to capacity fade, thus an
integrated approach considering different aspects of the degradation
mechanisms is necessary.
Integrating experimental and computational approaches, Professor Lu investigates degradation processes such as in-situ study
of the solid-electrolyte interphase, side-reaction coupled behaviors,
structural instability and mechanical failure of active materials, ion
diffusion and percolation, dissolution of active materials, cell and
pack thermal analysis, and effects of face pressure on cell performance. He has developed a life prediction framework that integrates
multiple physics across different scales — including electrochemical, transport, thermal, mechanical and thermodynamic processes.
Assisted with experimental measurements, he and his group are incorporating realistic three dimensional electrode microstructures in
models for high fidelity simulation. They are developing systematic
approaches for battery health optimization and physics-based battery control and management. Professor Lu’s group has a full set
of equipment for cell assembly, material characterization and cell
testing. His research also includes using self-assembly to create optimized battery electrode structures with high performance, battery
slurry optimization, and developing innovative layered materials for
battery electrodes.
Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility
Associate Professor Of Materials Science And Engineering
The Marquis lab’s research focuses on understanding and
quantifying the mechanisms controlling microstructural evolution in alloy systems (including light alloys), interfacial properties, oxidation behavior and irradiation effects in materials. To
complement her experimental work, Marquis forges close ties to
groups in computational and theoretical materials science. Her
work is pushing the limits of atomic scale microscopy techniques,
e.g. atom-probe tomography and high resolution transmission
and scanning transmission electron microscopy and Marquis is
working on improving these imaging techniques and developing new approaches to data analysis. She has also succeeded in
expanding the realm of atom-probe tomography to include the
analysis of microstructural features in bulk oxides.
University of Michigan Energy Institute
Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility
Huei Peng
Roger L. McCarthy Professor of Engineering
Jing Sun
Professor, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Power Management and System Integration for
Mobile Energy Systems with Batteries
The Peng and Sun groups work collaboratively in the area of
control and system integration of batteries on mobile energy systems, with applications focused on hybrid electric vehicles and
all-electric ships. Their emphasis is on system level modeling,
control development, and system integration and optimization.
The team develops methodologies and algorithms to enable efficient, reliable, safe, and sustainable operation of mobile energy
systems through analytical, numerical, and experimental investigation.
Batteries play a significant role in highly efficient and reliable operations of mobile energy platforms; their synergistic integration into the automobiles and ships is an essential strategy
in vehicle electrification. Challenges faced in developing effective power management of those energy systems involving batteries are mainly associated with the estimation of battery stateof-charge (SoC), state-of-health (SoH), and state-of-safety (SoS),
as well the adaptation of the system operation in response to
real-time SoC, SoH, and SoS information to assure high efficiency, long life cycle, and safety. Their recent work has been focused
on understanding and characterizing battery degradation mechanisms, as well as incorporating aging models for real-time SoC,
SoH, and SoS detection, battery health condition monitoring, and
degradation mitigation and prevention.
University of Michigan Energy Institute
Don Siegel
Johannes Schwank
Modeling Atomic-Scale Phenomena in Battery Materials
High-performance cathode materials for magnesium batteries
The ability to store energy in an efficient, cost-effective manner is a cross-cutting issue that impacts transportation, portable
electronics, and the penetration of renewable, intermittent power sources such as wind and solar. For example, batteries having
higher energy densities would accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, which would in turn reduce petroleum consumption
and green house gas emissions from the transportation sector.
Although energy storage devices are complex, at their core they
consist of a small number of “active materials.” More so than any
other component, these materials control the performance of
the device, and dictate fundamental properties such as energy
density, cost, and lifetime. For most energy storage systems it is
therefore fair to say: “the material is the device.” The focus of
Prof. Siegel’s research is to discover new energy storage materials and reveal the factors that control their performance.
Prof. Siegel and his students employ high performance computing to model materials at the atomic scale. His group develops and applies techniques ranging from the quantum mechanical level, to classical approaches such as Monte Carlo and
molecular dynamics. These techniques are applied to predict the
thermodynamic, kinetic, mechanical, and transport properties
of battery materials. Battery chemistries ranging from conventional Li-ion, to more speculative approaches such as metal-air,
Li-sulfur, Mg-ion, and solid-state chemistries have been the focus
of recent work. The primary research objectives are to characterize materials phenomena that are not easily measured using
conventional experimental techniques, and to discover materials having improved properties via high-throughput, in silico
screening.
Professor Schwank’s group works on the synthesis and characterization of high performance cathode materials for magnesium batteries that hold the promise to decrease the gap
between theoretical and practical gravimetric energy densities
while achieving longer cycle life and better thermal stability.
The synthesis of Mg-Mn-O and of Li-Ni-Mn-O spinel cathode materials is achieved by means of a simple and cost-effective method undergoing solid-state interactions of precursor compounds.
The conditions of forming spinels and parameters that affect the
structural properties such as oxygen vacancies are investigated
by varying precursors, heating and cooling rates. The crystallography and surface oxidation state of solid products is characterized by XRD and XPS. The morphology and surface element composition is measured by SEM/EDS. The Schwank lab developed a
novel method based on thermogravimetric analysis for quantitatively determining oxygen vacancies (i.e. mobile oxygen in the
structure); these vacancies are relevant to the electrochemical
performance of spinel cathodes. Understanding how oxygen vacancies affect the structure and electrochemical properties of
cathode materials is important for rational design of Mg-battery
spinel cathodes.
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering,
Materials Science & Engineering, and Applied Physics
Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility
James and Judith Street Professor of Chemical Engineering
Katsuyo Thornton
Melanie Sanford
Understanding battery charge and discharge
Energy Storage solutions for grid-scale applications
Charging and discharging of batteries involves tightly coupled physical and chemical mechanisms taking place within
complex electrode microstructures. Modeling and simulations
play a critical role in developing an understanding of these
electrochemical processes. Through computer simulations, the
Thornton Group seeks insights that will aid in the design of new
batteries and the improvement of existing ones.
As a part of the NorthEast Center for Chemical Energy Storage (NECCES), the Thornton group has been developing models
and simulation codes for various types of electrochemical processes. Their simulation work offers the opportunity to examine
crucial dynamic details at scales not easily accessible by experiments. Using the cathode microstructure from a commercial
laptop battery, simulations provided the dynamics of the Li concentration evolution in the cathode particles, the evolution of
salt concentration, and the electrochemical reaction rates at the
particle-electrolyte interfaces. The Thornton group is studying
the impact of inter-particle insulation layers formed during operations on the deterioration of lithium nickel cobalt aluminum
cathode particles. The study may shed light on approaches to
extend battery life.
The Thornton group also participates in the Joint Center for
Energy Storage Research (JCESR), in which they focus their efforts on Mg battery anodes. Three-dimensional simulations of
the morphological evolution of Mg deposits on Mg metal anodes have been performed. They recently developed a code that
is utilized to extract parameters such as diffusivity and kinetic
constants from experimental data provided by collaborators in
order to improve the prediction capability of electrochemical
dynamics simulations. These parameters will be used to conduct
the three-dimensional simulations described earlier. By applying
the same framework, her group is also studying the formation of
unstable Li deposits (“dendrites”) on Li anodes, in order to identify ways to suppress the formation of Li dendrites during battery
charging.
With the demand for energy ever increasing, it is important
to devise a worldwide strategy for integrating renewable-energy
sources and large-scale energy storage solutions for grid-scale
applications. One potential solution for large-scale energy storage is the implementation of redox flow batteries (RFBs), modular systems in which solutions of catholytes and anolytes can be
charged by renewable resources to store energy and then stored
separately. These charged solutions can later be discharged
when energy demand is high or the renewable resources are unavailable. While RFBs are safer and more easily scalable than
other secondary batteries, current technologies are limited by
the solubility of the active species and the electrochemical stability of the solvent. These systems typically employ aqueous
solutions of vanadium salts as electrolytes; however, the salts
have limited thermal stability in aqueous solution, and the operating potentials of the systems are limited by the electrochemical window of water (~1.23 V).
The Thompson group has focused on the development of
novel non-aqueous redox flow battery technologies, which afford a larger functional temperature range and wider electrochemical window (MeCN = ~5 V). As part of the Joint Center for
Energy Storage Research and NSF Sustainable Energy Pathways
collaborations, they are seeking to develop energy-dense storage solutions using highly soluble metal coordination complexes
that fully utilize the wider electrochemical window of non-aqueous solvents and have the potential for multiple electron transfer processes. The group is also working on the development of
small organic molecules as electroactive materials for RFB applications.
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Chemistry
University of Michigan Energy Institute
Jeff Sakamoto
Anna Stefanopoulou
Atomic-scale vacancies in advanced solid-state batteries
Seeing the Lithium and Sensing Battery Stress
The Sakamoto group studies materials and manufacturing
processes to develop new energy storage and biomedical technologies. The group takes a holistic approach to research encompassing materials design and discovery, articulation into
prototypes, and testing in relevant environments. While the
connection between these seemingly disparate fields may not be
obvious, they do share one aspect; nothing, or, more specifically,
studying the absence of mass in solids.
In the context of advanced solid-state batteries, the nothing
is manifested in the form of atomic-scale vacancies. The Sakamoto group’s recent work demonstrates the deliberate and
controlled creation of Li-ion vacancies (absence of mass), in garnet-based crystal structures, is key in transforming a good ionic conductor into a super-ionic conductor. This class of ceramic
material conducts Li-ions as fast as state-of-the-art liquid Li-ion
electrolyte membranes, perhaps enabling advanced solid-state
batteries.
Many multi-scale physics-based models and their reduced-order renditions are used to estimate the lithium concentration and over-potential distributions throughout the battery
electrode. This estimation can help determine power availability
while avoiding locally damaging phenomena. The group demonstrates how to evaluate the accuracy of various electrochemical
battery models by using neutron imaging as in situ measurement
of the lithium concentration along the anode and cathode electrode layers. The observations from an operating Lithium Iron
Phosphate (LFP) pouch cell battery with typical commercial
electrodes are used to define the limits of the validity of the electrode-averaged models used in observers.
Even with validated electrochemical models and state of the
art Kalman filtering techniques, state of charge (SOC) estimation
relies on the monotonicity of the open circuit voltage (OCV) as
a function of SOC. For some chemistries and ranges of SOC the
OCV-SOC relationship is very flat and renders SOC unobservable
from voltage measurement. Our research therefore relies on the
fusion of bulk force and battery voltage measurements to estimate the average SOC in Li-ion battery cells. The SOC region for
which the force-based SOC estimation is beneficial depends on
the cell chemistry and the phase-change of the electrode material during Li-intercalation.
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Levi T. Thompson
Richard E. Balzhiser Collegiate Professor of Chemical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Director, Hydrogen Energy Technology Laboratory
Nanostructured Materials for Energy Storage Applications
The Thompson group’s research focuses on the development
of structure-function relationships that can be used to design
better performing materials for catalytic and electrochemical
energy storage applications. As part of our work the group designs, synthesizes, characterizes and evaluates a variety of novel
materials. Current project areas include:
Materials for Non-Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries. Redox flow
batteries offer an attractive combination of energy and power
density for grid scale storage applications. Based on detailed
structure-function relationships, they are designing new metal
coordination complexes for use in high energy density electrolytes (funded by the Department of Energy and National Science
Foundation). The group is also developing nanoporous Aramid
fiber arrays for use as ion selective separators.
High Energy Density Cathode Materials for Li And Mg Ion
Batteries. Vanadium and manganese oxides possess high capacities for Li and Mg ion, but lack the cyclability and intercalation
rates needed for use in Li and Mg ion batteries. The group’s research involves the incorporation of nanoscale pillars into these
oxides to enhance ion transport thereby enabling application in
batteries.
High Energy Density Materials for Aqueous Supercapacitors. Supercapacitors possess very high power densities but lack
sufficient energy density for several key applications including
load leveling and regenerative braking. The Thompson group
is developing nanostructured early transition metal nitrides and
carbides for use in supercapacitors. These materials possess
metal-like electronic conductivities and can be produced with
very high surface areas.
Solid Polymer Electrolyte Reactors for Electrocatalytic Hydrogenations/Dehydrogenations. Hydrogenations and dehydrogenations are key reactions during the production of a variety of
chemicals and fuels. The Thompson group is exploring the use
of electrocatalytic as opposed to thermocatalytic reactors/catalysts for these reactions. The results could enable processes that
are driven by renewable electricity instead of fossil fuel derived
thermal energy. Another potential application is the reversible
conversion of liquid organic hydrogen carriers.
University of Michigan Energy Institute
Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility
The University of Michigan Energy Institute
Michigan Memorial Phoenix Laboratory
2301 Bonisteel Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2100
University of Michigan Energy Institute