Nanocomposites

Su Seong Lee, Adriana Maria Mendoza Garcia, Wenwen Liu, Hu Chen, Jian Liang Cheong and Jackie Y. Ying

We are now at a threshold in energy research. It has become increasingly difficult for current battery technology to keep up with the rising demand for energy storage. From portable electronics to electric vehicles and power grid, innovative energy storage solutions are required to meet the need for increasing electrification and fulfill the vision for renewable energy. Recently, researchers have turned toward nanomaterials to transform this sector. In our lab, we are developing nanocomposites with controlled porosity and architecture to enhance battery performance. In particular, we are working on lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur and solid-state battery technologies. Among the new materials engineered by our lab are nanoclusters with customized sizes, metal oxide nanosheets, nanocrystals with tailored morphologies, mesostructured materials, nanocomposite systems, porous organic polymers and metal organic frameworks. These novel materials display superior capacity, charging eff iciency, stability and safety than conventional materials, making them attractive for use in batteries and supercapacitors.