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Battery Electrodes and Cells

 

The primary goal is the development of a safe, environmentally benign, and cost effective electrochemical energy storage with high energy density. The research work focuses equally on the scientific fundamentals, 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.

 


  • Metallic Lithium as Negative Electrode
  • Silicon-Carbon Composites
  • NCM Cathode Materials and Interfaces
  • Lithium-Sulphur Batteries
  • Na-ion Battery Materials and Interfaces
Anastasia Efthymiadou 2022-2023   IAESTE intern Lithium deposition rate study for battery electrodes by thermal evaporation
Eric Winter 2019-2023   PhD thesis Fundamental Understanding of Critical Parameters Enabling Lithium Metal Batteries

Lucie Rivet

 2022 CEA Semester project

Understanding thermal deposition of lithium metal
Mohammed Srout 2021-2022   Postdoc Li-metal batteries
Laura King 2021-2022 The University of Edinburgh Master Thesis Anode‑free cells for high performance lithium metal batteries
Samuel Gatti 2021-2022 University of Freiburg Exchange student Na-ion batteries
Mariano Briccola 2021 ETH Zurich Semester project Enabling nitrate additives in carbonate electrolytes for Li metal batteries
Julian Stropp 2021 ETH Zurich Semester project

NaxLiyMn1-yO2 cathodes and the influence of superstructure on Na-ion battery performance
Leiting Zhang 2018-2021   Postdoc  
Hieu Quang Pham 2019-2021   Postdoc  
Simon Schneider 2018-2021   PhD student

Model-based assessment of stationary energy storage in batteries and implications for materials research
Samuel Steiner 2020 ETH Zurich Semester project

Synthesis & characterization of Li-doped manganese oxide cathodes for Na-ion batteries
Ambra van Liedekerke 2020 ETH Zurich Master Thesis

Correlation Between Crack Formation and Structural Evolutions in Li[NixCoyMny]O2 Layered Oxide Cathode Materials during Charge and Discharge Process
Leon Skarjan 2020 Heidelberg University IAESTE intern

Synthesis of novel sodium-ion cathode materials
David McNulty 2018-2020   Postdoc Inverse-opal structures for rechargeable battery applications
Maximilian Schuster 2018-2020 PSI/ETH Zurich PhD Project Sodium aqueous batteries
Emanuele Di Giovani 2019-2020   Engineer Evaluation of commercial batteries
Chrysi Tsolakidou 2019 Aristotle University of Thessaloniki IAESTE intern Operando gas analysis in Na-ion batteries
Kai-Hsuan Hung 2019 CSC, Taiwan Visiting scientist  
Christoph Bolli 2015-2019   Postdoc OEMS applications for positive electro-active materials for Li-ion batteries
André Müller 2019 TU Braunschweig Master thesis Investigation of the Influence of Different Binders on the SEI of a Lithium-ion Battery by Means of OEMS
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/ETH Zurich Master thesis Inverse Opal Derived Cathodes for Lithium-Sulfur Cells
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 intern 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 intern/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.

  • Jeschull F, Zhang L, Kondracki Ł, Scott F, Trabesinger S
    Interphase formation with carboxylic acids as slurry additives for Si electrodes in Li-ion batteries. Part 1: performance and gas evolution
    Journal of Physics Energy. 2023; 5(2): 025003 (16 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7655/acbbed
    DORA PSI
  • Jeschull F, Pham HQ, Ghamlouche A, Thakur PK, Trabesinger S, Maibach J
    Interphase formation with carboxylic acids as slurry additives for Si electrodes in Li-ion batteries. Part 2: a photoelectron spectroscopy study
    Journal of Physics Energy. 2023; 5(2): 025002 (21 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7655/acbbee
    DORA PSI
  • Srout M, Carboni M, Gonzalez J-A, Trabesinger S
    Insights into the importance of native passivation layer and interface reactivity of metallic lithium by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
    Small. 2023; 19(7): 2206252 (10 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202206252
    DORA PSI
  • Surace Y, Jeschull F, Novák P, Trabesinger S
    Performance-determining factors for Si-graphite electrode evaluation: the role of mass loading and amount of electrolyte additive
    Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2023; 170(2): 020510 (7 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/acb854
    DORA PSI
  • Winter E, Schmidt TJ, Trabesinger S
    Potentiostatic lithium plating as a fast method for electrolyte evaluation in lithium metal batteries
    Electrochimica Acta. 2023; 439: 141547 (13 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2022.141547
    DORA PSI
  • Dalkilic M, Schmidt A, Schladt TD, Axmann P, DuMont J, Travis J, et al.
    Tantalum oxide coating of Ni-rich cathode active material via atomic layer deposition and its influence on gas evolution and electrochemical performance in the early and advanced stages of degradation
    Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2022; 169(11): 110537 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/aca2e5
    DORA PSI
  • Garcia A, Biswas S, McNulty D, Roy A, Raha S, Trabesinger S, et al.
    One-step grown carbonaceous germanium nanowires and their application as highly efficient lithium-ion battery anodes
    ACS Applied Energy Materials. 2022; 5(2): 1922-1932. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.1c03404
    DORA PSI
  • Pham HQ, Kondracki Ł, Tarik M, Trabesinger S
    Correlating the initial gas evolution and structural changes to cycling performance of Co-free Li-rich layered oxide cathode
    Journal of Power Sources. 2022; 527: 231181 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.231181
    DORA PSI
  • Seidl L, Grissa R, Zhang L, Trabesinger S, Battaglia C
    Unraveling the voltage-dependent oxidation mechanisms of poly(ethylene oxide)-based solid electrolytes for solid-state batteries
    Advanced Materials Interfaces. 2022; 9(8): 2100704 (10 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202100704
    DORA PSI
  • Surace Y, Leanza D, Mirolo M, Kondracki Ł, Vaz CAF, El Kazzi M, et al.
    Evidence for stepwise formation of solid electrolyte interphase in a Li-ion battery
    Energy Storage Materials. 2022; 44: 156-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2021.10.013
    DORA PSI
  • Winter E, Schmidt TJ, Trabesinger S
    Identifying pitfalls in lithium metal battery characterization
    Batteries and Supercaps. 2022; 5(1): e202100145 (13 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.202100145
    DORA PSI
  • Zhao W, Zou L, Zhang L, Fan X, Zhang H, Pagani F, et al.
    Assessing long-term cycling stability of single-crystal versus polycrystalline nickel-rich NCM in pouch cells with 6 mAh cm−2 electrodes
    Small. 2022; 18(14): 2107357 (10 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202107357
    DORA PSI
  • Baster D, Kondracki Ł, Oveisi E, Trabesinger S, Girault HH
    Prussian blue analogue-sodium-vanadium hexacyanoferrate as a cathode material for Na-Ion batteries
    ACS Applied Energy Materials. 2021; 4(9): 9758-9765. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.1c01832
    DORA PSI
  • Jeschull F, Trabesinger S
    Fast-charge limitations for graphite anodes with Si as capacity-enhancing additive
    Batteries and Supercaps. 2021; 4(1): 131-139. https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.202000177
    DORA PSI
  • Pham HQ, Nguyen MT, Tarik M, El Kazzi M, Trabesinger S
    Cross-talk-suppressing electrolyte additive enabling high voltage performance of Ni-rich layered oxides in Li-Ion batteries
    ChemSusChem. 2021; 14(11): 2461-2474. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202100511
    DORA PSI
  • Zhang L, Müller Gubler EA, Tai C-W, Kondracki Ł, Sommer H, Novák P, et al.
    Elucidating the humidity-induced degradation of Ni-Rich layered cathodes for Li-ion batteries
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2021; 14(11): 13240-13249. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c23128
    DORA PSI
  • Zhang L, Tsolakidou C, Mariyappan S, Tarascon J-M, Trabesinger S
    Unraveling gas evolution in sodium batteries by online electrochemical mass spectrometry
    Energy Storage Materials. 2021; 42: 12-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2021.07.005
    DORA PSI
  • Armand M, Axmann P, Bresser D, Copley M, Edström K, Ekberg C, et al.
    Lithium-ion batteries - current state of the art and anticipated developments
    Journal of Power Sources. 2020; 479: 228708 (26 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.228708
    DORA PSI
  • Jeschull F, Surace Y, Zürcher S, Lari G, Spahr ME, Novák P, et al.
    Graphite particle-size induced morphological and performance changes of graphite-silicon electrodes
    Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2020; 167(10): 100535 (13 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ab9b9a
    DORA PSI
  • Mcnulty D, Landgraf V, Trabesinger S
    Simplifying the synthesis of carbon inverse opals
    RSC Advances. 2020; 10(40): 24108-24114. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ra03693e
    DORA PSI
  • Mcnulty D, Landgraf V, Trabesinger S
    The importance of sulfur host structural preservation for lithium-sulfur battery performance
    Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2020; 8(48): 26085-26097. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ta08690h
    DORA PSI
  • Pham HQ, Mirolo M, Tarik M, El Kazzi M, Trabesinger S
    Multifunctional electrolyte additive for improved interfacial stability in Ni-rich layered oxide full-cells
    Energy Storage Materials. 2020; 33: 216-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2020.08.026
    DORA PSI
  • Ting M, Burigana M, Zhang L, Finfrock YZ, Trabesinger S, Jonderian A, et al.
    Impact of nickel substitution into model Li-rich oxide cathode materials for Li-ion batteries
    Chemistry of Materials. 2020; 32(2): 849-857. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b04446
    DORA PSI
  • Yin W, Grimaud A, Rousse G, Abakumov AM, Senyshyn A, Zhang L, et al.
    Structural evolution at the oxidative and reductive limits in the first electrochemical cycle of Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2
    Nature Communications. 2020; 11(1): 1252 (11 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14927-4
    DORA PSI
  • Jeschull F, Surace Y, Zürcher S, Spahr ME, Novák P, Trabesinger S
    Electrochemistry and morphology of graphite negative electrodes containing silicon as capacity-enhancing electrode additive
    Electrochimica Acta. 2019; 320: 134602 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2019.134602
    DORA PSI
  • Jeschull F, Scott F, Trabesinger S
    Interactions of silicon nanoparticles with carboxymethyl cellulose and carboxylic acids in negative electrodes of lithium-ion batteries
    Journal of Power Sources. 2019; 431: 63-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.05.036
    DORA PSI
  • Surace Y, Jeschull F, Schott T, Zürcher S, Spahr ME, Trabesinger S
    Improving the cycling stability of SnO2-graphite electrodes
    ACS Applied Energy Materials. 2019; 2(10): 7364-7374. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.9b01344
    DORA PSI
  • Berg EJ, Trabesinger S
    Viability of polysulfide-retaining barriers in Li-S battery
    Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2018; 165(1): A5001-A5005. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0021801jes
    DORA PSI
  • Conder J, Bouchet R, Trabesinger S, Marino C, Gubler L, Villevieille C
    Direct observation of lithium polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries using operando X-ray diffraction
    Nature Energy. 2017; 2: 17069 (7 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.69
    DORA PSI
  • Conder J, Villevieille C, Trabesinger S, Novák P, Gubler L, Bouchet R
    Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of a Li-S battery: part 1. Influence of the electrode and electrolyte compositions on the impedance of symmetric cells
    Electrochimica Acta. 2017; 244: 61-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2017.05.041
    DORA PSI
  • Conder J, Villevieille C, Trabesinger S, Novák P, Gubler L, Bouchet R
    Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of a Li-S battery: part 2. influence of separator chemistry on the lithium electrode/electrolyte interface
    Electrochimica Acta. 2017; 255: 379-390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2017.09.148
    DORA PSI
  • Schott T, Robert R, Ulmann PA, Lanz P, Zürcher S, Spahr ME, et al.
    Cycling behavior of silicon-containing graphite electrodes, part A: effect of the lithiation protocol
    Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 2017; 121(34): 18423-18429. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b05919
    DORA PSI
  • Schott T, Robert R, Pacheco Benito S, Ulmann PA, Lanz P, Zürcher S, et al.
    Cycling behavior of silicon-containing graphite electrodes, part B: effect of the silicon source
    Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 2017; 121(46): 25718-25728. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b08457
    DORA PSI
  • Schott T, Gómez-Cámer JL, Novák P, Trabesinger S
    Relationship between the properties and cycle life of Si/C composites as performance-enhancing additives to graphite electrodes for Li-ion batteries
    Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2017; 164(2): A190-A203. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0701702jes
    DORA PSI
  • Schott T, Gómez-Cámer JL, Bünzli C, Novák P, Trabesinger S
    The counterintuitive impact of separator–electrolyte combinations on the cycle life of graphite-silicon composite electrodes
    Journal of Power Sources. 2017; 343: 142-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.01.055
    DORA PSI
  • Conder J, Forner-Cuenca A, Gubler EM, Gubler L, Novák P, Trabesinger S
    Performance-enhancing asymmetric separator for lithium-sulfur batteries
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2016; 8(29): 18822-18831. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b04662
    DORA PSI
  • Peng H-J, Villevieille C, Trabesinger S, Wolf H, Leitner K, Novák P
    Mechanism of the carbonate-based-electrolyte degradation and its effects on the electrochemical performance of Li1+x(NiaCobMn1-a-b)1-xO2 cells
    Journal of Power Sources. 2016; 335: 91-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.10.031
    DORA PSI
  • Poux T, Novak P, Trabesinger S
    Pitfalls in Li-S rate-capability evaluation
    Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2016; 163(7): A1139-A1145. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0181607jes
    DORA PSI
  • Berg EJ, Villevieille C, Streich D, Trabesinger S, Novák P
    Rechargeable batteries: grasping for the limits of chemistry
    Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2015; 162(14): A2468-A2475. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0081514jes
    DORA PSI

Group Head 
Dr. Sigita Trabesinger

Paul Scherrer Institut 
Forschungsstrasse 111
5232 Villigen, Switzerland
Phone: +41 56 310 5775 
E-Mail: sigita.trabesinger@psi.ch

Administrator
Cordelia Gloor

Phone: +41 56 310 29 19
E-mail: cordelia.gloor@psi.ch