Battery Electrodes and Cells


The primary goal is the development of a safe, environmentally benign, and cost effective electrochemical energy storage system with significantly improved specific energy. The research work focuses equally on the scientific background essential for the development of new technologies and on the analysis of ageing and safety relevant aspects of current industrial batteries. The investigated systems include both lithium-ion and post-lithium-ion batteries.



  • Lithium-Sulphur Batteries
  • Metallic Lithium as Negative Electrode
  • Design of Bespoke Carbons
  • Silicon-Carbon Composites
  • NCM Cathode Materials and Interfaces
  • Aqueous Sodium Batteries
Kai-Hsuan Hung 2019 CSC, Taiwan Visiting scientist  
Christoph Bolli 2015-2019   Postdoc OEMS applications for positive electroactive materials for Li-ion batteries
André Müller 2019 TU Braunschweig  Master thesis  
Eibar Flores 2016-2019 PSI/ETH Zurich PhD thesis Development of operando diagnostics for Li-ion cathodes by Raman spectroscopy
Fabian Jeschull 2017-2019   Postdoc Si as capacity enhancing electrode additive; dynamic EIS; Si-graphite composites
Paul Kitz 2017-2019 PSI/ETH Zurich PhD thesis A New Perspective on Interphase Formation in Li-ion Batteries by Combined EIS & EQCM-D
Robin Bühler 2019 ETHZ Semester project Surface Modifications on Si Particles for Lithium-Ion Battery Applications
Victor Landgraf 2018-2019 Imperial College London/ETHZ Master thesis  
Lorenz Olbrich 2019 ETHZ Semester project  
Juliette Bilaud 2018   Postdoc Metallic lithium anodes
Yuri Surace 2017-2018   Postdoc High Capacity Carbon-Based Composite Anode Active Materials for Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes
Flora Scott 2018 University of Manchester & University of British Columbia IAESTE internship Carboxylic acids as buffers in aqueous silicon electrode slurries – electrochemistry and infrared studies
Reto Suter 2018 ETH Zurich Semester project Morphology and Electrochemistry of Graphite Electrodes with Silicon as Capacity Enhancing Additive
Rokas Paulius Petrauskas 2017 Vilnius University IAESTE internship/Master thesis Si–C Composites for High-Energy Li-ion Battery Negative Electrodes
Neal Cardoza 2017 Purdue University ThinkSwiss internship Polysulphide analysis in catholytic Li–S cells
Tiphaine Schott (Poux) 2014-2017   Postdoc Li–S Battery; Mettalic lithium anodes; Silicon–graphite and tin-oxide–graphite composites
Jan Dundálek 2016 University of Chemistry and Technology IAESTE internship Understanding the Role of Carbon Properties for Enhanced Li–S Battery Performance
Joanna Conder 2013-2016 PSI/ETH Zurich PhD thesis Asymmetrically Functionalized Separator for Lithium–Sulfur Battery with Polysulfide Barrier Properties
Hai-Jung Peng 2013-2016 PSI/ETH Zurich PhD thesis Unravelling the Cell Aging Phenomena in Aprotic Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Oxide batteries
Markus Gehring 2016 RWTH Aachen University Semester project Polysulphide-based Li–S Battery
John Boland 2015 The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin Senior Sophister project Finding the Perfect Carbon for Li–S Batteries
Maximilian Tornow 2015 ETH Zurich Semester project Synthesis of Tunable Porous Carbons and Their Application in Batteries
Iván García Torregrosa 2012 Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III Internship Investigation of Polymer Electrolytes for Li–S Batteries

 


For motivated students we can always offer a possibility to perform their Semester and Master project on the one of the topics listed above under Projects. For more information please contact Dr. Sigita Trabesinger.


Publications & Posters

  • Cycling behavior of silicon-containing graphite electrodes, Part B: Effect of the silicon source T. Schott, R. Robert, S.Pacheco Benito, P.A. Ulmann, P. Lanz, S. Zürcher, M.E. Spahr, P. Novák, S. Trabesinger
    J. Phys. Chem. C 121, 25718-25728 (2017)
    DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b08457OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of a Li–S battery: Part 2. Influence of separator chemistry on the lithium electrode/electrolyte interface J. Conder, C. Villevieille, S. Trabesinger, P. Novák, L. Gubler, R. Bouchet
    Electrochim. Acta 255, 379-390 (2017)
    DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.09.148OG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5413 , OG-5421
  • Cycling behavior of silicon-containing graphite electrodes, Part A: Effect of the lithiation protocol T. Schott, R. Robert, P.A. Ulmann, P. Lanz, S. Zürcher, M.E. Spahr, P. Novák, S. Trabesinger
    J. Phys. Chem. C 121 (34), 18423-18429 (2017)
    DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b05919OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of a Li–S battery: Part 1. Influence of the electrode and electrolyte compositions on the impedance of symmetric cells J. Conder, C. Villevieille, S. Trabesinger, P. Novák, L. Gubler, R. Bouchet
    Electrochim. Acta 244, 61-68 (2017)
    DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.05.041OG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5413 , OG-5421
  • The counterintuitive impact of separator–electrolyte combinations on the cycle life of graphite–silicon composite electrodes T. Schott, J.L. Gómez-Cámer, Ch. Bünzli, S. Trabesinger, P. Novák
    J. Power Sources 343, 142-147 (2017)
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.01.055OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Relationship between the properties and cycle Life of Si/C composites as performance-enhancing additives to graphite electrodes for Li-Ion batteries T. Schott, J.L. Gómez-Cámer, P. Novák, S. Trabesinger
    J. Electrochem. Soc. 164 (2), A190-A203 (2017)
    DOI: 10.1149/2.0701702jesOG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Mechanism of the carbonate-based-electrolyte degradation and its effects on the electrochemical performance of Li1+x(NiaCobMn1-a-b)1-xO2 cells H.-J. Peng, C. Villevieille, S. Trabesinger, H. Wolf, K. Leitner, P. Novák
    J. Power Sources 335, 91-97 (2016)
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.10.031OG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5413
  • Performance-enhancing asymmetric separator for lithium–sulfur batteries J. Conder, A. Forner-Cuenca, E. Müller Gubler, L. Gubler, P. Novák, S. Trabesinger
    ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 8 (29), 18822-18831 (2016)
    DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b04662OG-5410 , OG-5413 , OG-5421
  • Rechargeable batteries: Grasping for the limits of chemistry E.J. Berg, C. Villevieille, D. Streich, S. Trabesinger, P. Novák
    J. Electrochem. Soc. 162 (14), A2468-A2475 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1149/2.0081514jesOG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5412 , OG-5413
  • Concentration effects on the entropy of electrochemical lithium deposition: implications for Li+ solvation M.J. Schmid, J. Xu, J. Lindner, P. Novák, R. Schuster
    J. Phys. Chem. B 119, 13385-13390 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b07670OG-5410 , OG-5412 , OG-5413
  • Combined operando X-ray diffraction-electrochemical impedance spectroscopy detecting solid solution reactions of LiFePO4 in batteries M. Hess, T. Sasaki, C. Villevielle, P. Novák
    Nature Commun. 6, 8169 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS9169OG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5413
  • Taming the polysulphide shuttle in Li–S batteries by plasma-induced asymmetric functionalisation of the separator J. Conder, S. Urbonaite, D. Streich, P. Novák, L. Gubler
    RSC Adv. 5, 79654 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1039/C5ra13197aOG-5410 , OG-5413 , OG-5421
  • Consequences of electrolyte degradation for the electrochemical performance of Li1+x(NiaCobMn1-a-b)1-xO2 H.-J. Peng, S. Urbonaite, C. Villevieille, H. Wolf, K. Leitner, P. Novák
    J. Electrochem. Soc., 162 (13), A7072-A7077 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1149/2.0061513jesOG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5413
  • Electrochemical study of Si/C composites with particulate and fibrous morphology as negative electrodes for lithium-ion batteries J.L. Gómez-Cámer, H. Thuv, P. Novák
    J. Power Sources 294, 128–135 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.06.067OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Influence of graphite edge crystallographic orientation on the first lithium intercalation in Li-ion battery Ph. Bernardo, J.-M. Le Meins, L. Vidal, J. Dentzer, R. Gadiou, W. Märkle, P. Novák, M.E. Spahr, C. Vix-Guterl
    Carbon 91, 458–467 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2015.05.001OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Progress towards commercially viable Li-S battery cells S. Urbonaite, T. Poux, P. Novák
    Adv. Energy Mater. 1500118 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201500118OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Influence of conversion material morphology on electrochemistry studied with operando x-ray tomography and diffraction C. Villevieille, M. Ebner, J.L. Gómez-Cámer, F. Marone, P. Novák, V. Wood
    Adv. Mater. 27, 1676-1681 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1002/adma.201403792OG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5413
  • Activation mechanism of LiNi0.80Co0.15Al0.05O2: Surface and bulk operando electrochemical, differential electrochemical mass spectrometry, and X‑ray diffraction analyses R. Robert, Ch. Bünzli, E.J. Berg, P. Novák
    Chem. Mater. 27, 526−536 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1021/cm503833bOG-5410 , OG-5412 , OG-5413 , OG-5414
  • Important aspects for reliable electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements of Li-Ion battery electrodes Ch. Bünzli, H. Kaiser, P. Novák
    J. Electrochem. Soc. 162, 1, A218-A222 (2015)
    DOI: 10.1149/2.1061501jesOG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Polyacrylate bound TiSb2 electrodes for Li-ion batteries J.L. Gómez-Cámer, P. Novák
    J. Power Sources 273, 174–179 (2015).
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.09.087OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Reducing mass transfer effects on the kinetics of 5V HE-NCM electrode materials for Li-Ion batteries C. Villevieille, J.L. Gómez-Cámer, M. Hess, P. Novák
    J. Electrochem. Soc 161 (6), A871-A874 (2014).
    DOI: 10.1149/2.067405jesOG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5413
  • Bulk and surface analyses of ageing of a 5V-NCM positive electrode material for lithium-ion batteries C. Villevieille, P. Lanz, Ch. Bünzli, P. Novák
    J. Mater. Chem. A 2, 6488-6493 (2014).
    DOI: 10.1039/C3TA13112BOG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5412 , OG-5413
  • Importance of ‘unimportant’ experimental parameters in Li–S battery development S. Urbonaite, P. Novák
    J. Power Sources 249, 497-502 (2014)
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.10.095OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Antimony based negative electrodes for next generation Li-ion batteries J.L. Gómez-Cámer, C. Villevieille, P. Novák
    J. Mater. Chem. A 1, 13011–13016 (2013).
    DOI: 10.1039/c3ta12762aOG-5410 , OG-5411 , OG-5413
  • Size controlled CuO nanoparticles for Li-ion batteries O. Waser, M. Heß, A. Güntner, P. Novák, S.E. Pratsinis
    J. Power Sources 241, 415-422 (2013).
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.04.147OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Shrinking annuli mechanism and stage-dependent rate capability of thin-layer graphite electrodes for lithium-ion batteries M. Heß, P. Novák
    Electrochim. Acta 106, 149– 158 (2013).
    DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2013.05.056OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy: Understanding the role of the reference electrode J.L. Gómez-Cámer, P. Novák
    Electrochem. Commun. 34, 208-210 (2013).
    DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2013.06.0161OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Hybridization of electrochemical capacitors and rechargeable batteries: an experimental analysis of the different possible approaches utilizing activated carbon, Li4Ti5O12 and LiMn2O4 D. Cericola, P. Novák, A. Wokaun, R. Kötz
    Journal of Power Sources, Volume 196, Issue 23 (2011) 10305-10313
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.07.032OG-5410 , OG-5413 , OG-5423
  • Mixed bi-material electrodes based on LiMn2O4 and activated carbon for hybrid electrochemical energy storage devices D. Cericola, P. Novák, A. Wokaun, R. Kötz
    Electrochimica Acta 56 (2011) 8403-8411
    DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2011.07.029OG-5410 , OG-5413 , OG-5423
  • Segmented bi-material electrodes of activated carbon and LiMn2O4 for electrochemical hybrid storage devices: effect of mass ratio and C-rate on current sharing. D. Cericola, P. Novák, A. Wokaun, R. Kötz
    Electrochimica Acta 56 (2011) 1288-1293
    DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2010.10.016OG-5413 , OG-5423
  • The influence of the local current density on the electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in lithium-ion battery negative electrodes. D. Goers, M. E. Spahr, A. Leone, W. Märkle, and P. Novák
    Electrochimica Acta 56 (2011) 3799-3808
    DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2011.02.046OG-5410 , OG-5413
  • Characterization of bi-material electrodes for electrochemical hybrid energy storage devices D. Cericola, P.W. Ruch, R. Kötz, P. Novak, A. Wokaun
    Electrochemistry Communications 12 (2010) 812–815
    DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2010.03.040OG-5410 , OG-5413 , OG-5423
  • Simulation of a supercapacitor / Li-ion battery hybrid for pulsed applications D. Cericola, P.W. Ruch, R. Kötz, P. Novák, A. Wokaun
    Journal of Power Sources 195 (2010) 2731-2736
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.10.104OG-5410 , OG-5413 , OG-5423
  • Colorimetric determination of lithium-ion mobility in graphite composite electrodes. P. Maire, H. Kaiser, W. Scheifele, and P. Novák
    Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 644 (2010) 127-131
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2009.09.011OG-5410 , OG-5413