Our new paper “Elucidating the Evolving Atomic Structure in Atomic Layer Deposition Reactions with In Situ XANES and Machine Learning” is published in Chemistry of Materials. In this paper, we perform in situ synchrotron x-ray absorption analysis of ALD reactions in the initial cycles. Wee introduce a new platform for high-throughput screening of thousands of possible atomic configurations in first-principles models to fit the XANES spectra, demonstrating a synergistic approach that leverages machine learning techniques for atomic-scale modeling of surface chemistry. [link]
Author: ndasgupt
236th ECS Meeting
Neil organized the “Solid-State Batteries” session at the ECS Fall Meeting in Atlanta, and our group gave 5 talks, including presentations from Eric, Michael, and Adrian.
New Ph.D. students
Welcome to our newest Ph.D. students: Alondra Ortiz, Daniel Penley, and Tae Cho!
ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship
Neil is a recipient of the 2019 ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship. The fellowship aims to encourage young professors and scholars to pursue innovative electrochemical research in green energy technology. Through this fellowship, ECS and Toyota hope to see further innovative and unconventional technologies borne from electrochemical research. [press release]
AVS-ALD Conference
The group had 6 talks at the 19th International Conference on Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD2019) in Bellevue, Washington, including talks from Ashley, Andrew D., Tae, Yuxin, and Neil.
Invited talk at University of Toronto
Neil gave an invited talk at University of Toronto. Thanks Prof. Ted Sargent for the invitation!
New paper on ALD of bismuth vanadate photoanodes
Our new paper “Atomic Layer Deposition of Bismuth Vanadate Core-Shell Nanowire Photoanodes” is published in Chemistry of Materials. In this paper, we systematically tune the composition of BiVO4 films deposited by ALD, which is enabled by use of a novel Bi-alkoxide precursor. By forming core-shell nanowires using ALD, we measure a photocurrent of 2.9 mA/cm2 at a voltage of 1.23 V vs. RHE — the highest reported photocurrent to date for any photoanode deposited by ALD. [link]
Invited talks at UC Berkeley and Vanderbilt University
Neil gave invited talks at UC Berkeley’s Nano Seminar, and in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. Thanks Prof. Peidong Yang (UCB), and Prof. Kelsey Hatzell (Vanderbilt) for the invitations!
Journal cover of Advanced Energy Materials
Our recent paper on ALD-coated 3-D current collectors for high Coulombic efficiency lithium metal anodes was selected as the front cover image in the January 2019 issue of Advanced Energy Materials! [cover image]
New paper on lithium battery mechanics published
Our paper “Lithium Mechanics: Roles of Strain Rate and Temperature and Implications for Lithium Metal Batteries” is published in Journal of the Electrochemical Society. In this paper we present a comprehensive set of mechanical deformation experiments on bulk lithium, demonstrating strong strain rate and temperature dependence. This is attributed to power-law creep, which we show is the dominant deformation mechanism for Li metal anodes over a wide range of battery-relevant conditions. Examples in solid-state and liquid lithium metal batteries are discussed. [link]