Battery Materials and Diagnostics Group

recent highlights 2020
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Our first goal is to develop novel materials and to improve existing materials for Li/Na-ion batteries. We apply different synthetic routes, such as sol-gel chemistry, mechano-synthesis, solid-state synthesis under various controlled atmospheres, and microwave synthesis to control the morphology and to obtain the most promising electrochemical performances of the investigated systems. We have also the capability of realizing thin film growth of solid electrolyte, cathode and anode materials for applications e.g. in micro-batteries or to be used as model electrodes. The thin films growth are performed in our UHV cluster connected to the XPS spectrometer and equipped with RF sputtering, e-gun evaporators under various gas atmosphere.

Our second goal is to elucidate the electrochemical reaction mechanisms by applying post mortem or operando measurements by combining a wide range of techniques in-house or at big facilities dedicated to surface and bulk characterization. We have developed electrochemical cells for liquid-based and all-solid-state batteries for operando X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS in transmission, TEY and TFY modes), X-ray tomography, X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) etc. Many of our activities are supported by our industrial partners.

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PhD students and Postdocs

  • Dr. Tian Liu, 2021-2023 - IVECO Group Switzerland
  • Dr. Santhosha Aggunda Lingamurthy, 2022 - SAFT, France
  • Dr. Ales Stefancic, 2019-2021 - Belenos, Switzerland
  • Dr. Steven Lacey, 2019-2021 - Postdoc at Huntsman Advanced Materials - Switzerland
  • Dr. Juliana Bruneli Falqueto, 2020-2021 - Postdoc at Paul Scherrer institute, Switzerland
  • Dr. Laura Höltschi, 2016-2021 - Leclanché 
  • Dr. Marta Mirolo, 2016-2020 - Postdoc at ESRF - ID31, Grenoble France
  • Dr. Xiaohan Wu, 2016-2019 - Porsche consulting, Germany
  • Dr. Daniela Leanza, 2015-2018 - R&D Battery Engineer at Sonova group, Switzerland
  • Dr. Giulio Ferraresi, 2014-2018 - Hilti, Liechtenstein

Master/Semester Students and Visitors

  • Robin Wullich, 2022 - ETH-Zurich
  • Ernesto Claure Ramirez, 2022 - Friedrich-Alexander Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg
  • Adil Baiju, 2022 - ETH-Zurich
  • Bowen Li, 2022 - Technology University of Denmark-DTU
  • Joel Handschin, 2021 - ETH-Zurich
  • Moritz Bohn, 2020 - Technical University Munich (TUM)
  • Gabriel Quintans, 2020 - IAESTE, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden 
  • Keisuke Morita, 2019 - Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
  • Nick Seiller, 2018 
  • Dr. Alice Judith Gillen, 2014 - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • Lacey SD, Gilardi E, Müller E, Merckling C, Saint-Girons G, Botella C, et al.
    Integration of Li4Ti5O12 crystalline films on silicon toward high-rate performance lithionic devices
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2023; 15(1): 1535-1544. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c17073
    DORA PSI
  • Falqueto JB, Clark AH, Štefančič A, Smales GJ, Vaz CAF, Schuler AJ, et al.
    High performance doped Li-rich Li1+xMn2-xO4 cathodes nanoparticles synthesized by facile, fast, and efficient microwave assisted hydrothermal route
    ACS Applied Energy Materials. 2022; 5(7): 8357-8370. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.2c00902
    DORA PSI
  • Wu X, Mirolo M, Vaz CAF, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Reactivity and potential profile across the electrochemical LiCoO2-Li3PS4 interface probed by operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2021; 13(36): 42670-42681. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c09605
    DORA PSI
  • Höltschi L, Borca CN, Huthwelker T, Marone F, Schlepütz CM, Pelé V, et al.
    Performance-limiting factors of graphite in sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries
    Electrochimica Acta. 2021; 389: 138735 (10 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2021.138735
    DORA PSI
  • Mirolo M, Wu X, Vaz CAF, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Unveiling the complex redox reactions of SnO2in Li-Ion batteries using operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2021; 13(2): 2547-2557. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c17936
    DORA PSI
  • Leanza D, Vaz CAF, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Instability of PVDF binder in the LiFePO4 versus Li4Ti5O12 Li‐Ion battery cell
    Helvetica Chimica Acta. 2021; 104(1): e2000183 (9 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1002/hlca.202000183
    DORA PSI
  • Höltschi L, Jud F, Borca C, Huthwelker T, Villevieille C, Pelé V, et al.
    Study of graphite cycling in sulfide solid electrolytes
    Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2020; 167(11): 110558 (10 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/aba36f
    DORA PSI
  • Vaz CAF, Kleibert A, EL Kazzi M
    Nanoscale XPEEM spectromicroscopy
    In: Sattler KD, ed. Advanced analytic methods and instrumentation. 21st century nanoscience – a handbook. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis; 2020:17 (21 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429340420-17
    DORA PSI
  • Mirolo M, Vaz CAF, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Multi-length-scale x-ray spectroscopies for determination of surface reactivity at high voltages of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 vs Li4Ti5O12
    Journal of Chemical Physics. 2020; 152(18): 184705 (13 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0006269
    DORA PSI
  • Wu X, Villevieille C, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Insights into the chemical and electronic interface evolution of Li4Ti5O12 cycled in Li2S-P2S5 enabled by operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
    Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2020; 8(10): 5138-5146. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TA14147B
    DORA PSI
  • Mirolo M, Leanza D, Höltschi L, Jordy C, Pelé V, Novák P, et al.
    Post mortem and operando XPEEM: a surface-sensitive tool for studying single particles in Li-Ion battery composite electrodes
    Analytical Chemistry. 2020; 92(4): 3023-3031. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04124
    DORA PSI
  • Leanza D, Mirolo M, F. Vaz CA, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Surface degradation and chemical electrolyte oxidation induced by the oxygen released from layered oxide cathodes in Li−ion batteries
    Batteries and Supercaps. 2019; 2: 482-492. https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.201800126
    DORA PSI
  • Leanza D, Vaz CAF, Melinte G, Mu X, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Revealing the dual surface reactions on a HE-NCM Li-Ion battery cathode and their impact on the surface chemistry of the counter electrode
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2019; 11(6): 6054-6065. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b19511
    DORA PSI
  • Ferraresi G, El Kazzi M, Czornomaz L, Tsai C-L, Uhlenbruck S, Villevieille C
    Electrochemical performance of all-solid-state Li-ion batteries based on garnet electrolyte using silicon as a model electrode
    ACS Energy Letters. 2018; 3(4): 1006-1012. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.8b00264
    DORA PSI
  • Ferraresi G, Villevieille C, Czekaj I, Horisberger M, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    SnO2 model electrode cycled in Li-Ion battery reveals the formation of Li2SnO3 and Li8SnO6 phases through conversion reactions
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2018; 10(10): 8712-8720. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b19481
    DORA PSI
  • Leanza D, Vaz CAF, Czekaj I, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Solving the puzzle of Li4Ti5O12 surface reactivity in aprotic electrolytes in Li-ion batteries by nanoscale XPEEM spectromicroscopy
    Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2018; 6(8): 3534-3542. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ta09673a
    DORA PSI
  • Sun B, El Kazzi M, Müller E, Berg EJ
    Toward high-performance Li(NixCoyMnz)O2 cathodes: facile fabrication of an artificial polymeric interphase using functional polyacrylates
    Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2018; 6(36): 17778-17786. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8TA03954B
    DORA PSI
  • Wu X, Villevieille C, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Monitoring the chemical and electronic properties of electrolyte-electrode interfaces in all-solid-state batteries using operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
    Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 2018; 20(16): 11123-11129. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8cp01213j
    DORA PSI
  • Ferraresi G, Czornomaz L, Villevieille C, Novák P, El Kazzi M
    Elucidating the surface reactions of an amorphous Si thin film as a model electrode for Li-ion batteries
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2016; 8(43): 29791-29798. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b10929
    DORA PSI
  • El Kazzi M, Czekaj I, J. Berg E, Novák P, Brown MA
    Investigation of Li-ion solvation in carbonate based electrolytes using near ambient pressure photoemission
    Topics in Catalysis. 2016; 59(5-7): 628-634. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-015-0518-2
    DORA PSI

Group Head 
Dr. Mario El Kazzi  
Paul Scherrer Institut 
Forschungsstrasse 111
5232 Villigen, Switzerland
Telephone: +41 56 310 5149 
E-Mail: mario.el-kazzi@psi.ch

 

  • Welcome to Robin Wullich joined our group as PhD student working on Li anode less for ASSBs. 03-07-2023
  • Congratulations to Valerie Siller for receiving the PSI-Fellow grant co-funded by Horizon2020 of the EU Commission. 01.04.2023
  • Welcome to Adil Baiju joined our group as PhD student working on thin film lithionic devices. 01-11-2022
  • Welcome to Ernesto Claure Ramirez (Friedrich-Alexander Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg), he joined our group for his IAESTE semester project. 05-09-2022
  • Congratulations to Juliana Bruneli Falqueto and the co-authors for the accepted paper "High Performance Doped Li-Rich Li1+xMn2–xO4 Cathodes Nanoparticles Synthesized by Facile, Fast, and Efficient Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Route", ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 07-2022
  • Welcome to Robin Wullich (ETH-Zurich), he joined our group for his Master project. 01-07-2022
  • Welcome to Ramasamy Hari Vignesh joined our group as postdoc. 02-05-2022
  • Welcome to Adil Baiju (ETH-Zurich), he joined our group for his Master project. 04-04-2022
  • Welcome to Valerie Siller and Santhosha Aggunda Lingamurthy joined our group as postdoc. 01-02-2022
  • Welcome to Linfeng Xu and Jinsong Zhang joined our group as PhD students on the SNF-Sinergia project. 03-01-2022
  • Welcome to Bowen Li (Technology University of Denmark-DTU), he joined our group for his semester project. 04-10-2021
  • Congratulations to Laura Höltschi successfully passed her PhD thesis defense, "Understanding Degradation Mechanisms of Sulfide-Based All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries at Multiple Length Scales" 29-09-2021
  • Congratulations to Xiaohan Wu and the co-authors for the accepted paper "Reactivity and Potential Profile across the Electrochemical LiCoO2–Li3PS4 Interface Probed by Operando X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy", Appl. Mater. Interfaces 07-2021
  • Our SNF-Sinergia application is approved "Pushing All Solid-State Batteries to Their Full Potential" in collaboration with University of Fribourg, EPFL and Seoul National University. 01-06-2021
  • Congratulations to Laura Höltschi and the co-authors for the accepted paper "Performance-limiting factors of graphite in sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries", Electrochimica Acta 01-06-2021
  • Welcome to Tian Liu joined our group as Postdoc on Innosuisse project. 03-05-2021
  • Welcome to Joel Handschin (ETHZ master student), he joined our group for his semester project. 07-04-2021
  • Welcome to Barthélémy Lelotte joined our group as PhD student in collaboration with SAFT. 01-04-2021
  • Congratulations to Marta Mirolo and the co-authors for the accepted paper "Unveiling the Complex Redox Reactions of SnO2 in Li-Ion Batteries Using Operando X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and In Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy", Appl. Mater. Interfaces 10-01-2021
  • Congratulations to Daniela Leanza and the co-authors for the accepted paper "Instability of PVDF Binder in the LiFePO4versus Li4Ti5O12 Li‐Ion Battery Cell", Helv. Chim. Acta 27-11-2020
  • Congratulations to Marta Mirolo successfully passed her PhD thesis defense. "Multiple scales post mortem and operando XPS, XAS and XPEEM investigations of reactivity at interfaces in Li-ion batteries" 11-11-2020 
  • Welcome to Dominika Baster joined our group as scientist. 02-11-2020 
  • Welcome to Moritz Bohn from (Technical University Munich, Germany), he joined our group for his Master project. 14-09-2020
  • Welcome to Gabriel Quintans from (Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden), he joined our group for 3 months IAESTE internship. 03-08-2020
  • Congratulations to Laura Höltschi and the co-authors for the accepted paper "Study of Graphite Cycling in Sulfide Solid Electrolytes", Journal of The Electrochemical Society 07-07-2020
  • Our book chapter contribution on "Nanoscale XPEEM spectromicroscopy" is now available on line.  02-04-2020
  • Congratulations to Marta Mirolo and all the co-authors for the accepted paper "Multi-length-scale x-ray spectroscopies for determination of surface reactivity at high voltages of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 vs Li4Ti5O12", The Journal of Chemical Physics  04-2020
  • Welcome to Juliana Bruneli Falqueto PhD student from Sao Carlos Federal University - Brasil, joined our group for 1 year exchange program 02-03-2020 
  • Congratulations to Xiaohan Wu and the co-authors for the accepted paper "Insights into the chemical and electronic interface evolution of Li4Ti5O12 cycled in Li2S–P2S5 enabled by operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy", Journal of Materials Chemistry A 03-2020
  • Congratulations to Marta Mirolo and all the co-authors for the accepted paper "Post mortem and operando XPEEM: a surface-sensitive tool for studying single particles in Li-ion battery composite electrodes", Analytical Chemistry  01-2020