Current Research Areas

Cathode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries:

Our interest focuses on the study of lithium location and transport in materials such as Li[Ni_⅓Mn_⅓Co_⅓]O₂ and Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃, which are candidates for cathode materials in secondary lithium ion batteries. We use ⁷Li/⁶Li solid-state NMR, including 2D exchange spectroscopy, to probe the local structure develop an understanding of the microscopic mobility of the lithium sites. Electrochemical measurements are performed to study the lithium insertion/deinsertion mechanism in detail and to determine which sites are active and/or exchanged.

Traditional and Emerging Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells:

Our research in the area of PEM-FC focuses on the proton dynamics in proton exchange membranes such as Nafion™, Sulfonated polyether ether ketones (S-PEEK) and their composites obtained by doping conductive inorganic fillers. Proton mobility on microscopic level is investigated by dipolar recoupling pulse (BABA). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used to measure bulk ionic conductivity. Our goal is to understand conductivity difference of PEMs on molecular level by combining solid state NMR and conductivity measurements.

Polymers & model complexes based on imidazole compounds are also studied using similar proton NMR techniques that were applied to Nafion with the goal of understanding the proton mobility within these compounds. The focus of this research is to understand the mechanism of ion conduction in these polymers and improve upon it using various methods & model compounds.