- Structure-based screening framework for SEI additives (cyclic + double-bond + unsaturation)
- Discovered redox-shuttle additives for overcharge protection — basis of multiple US patents
- Synthesized cyclic phosphate additive (EMP) with improved capacity retention
阿贡国家实验室 DOE 资助电池研究
科研项目
在阿贡国家实验室开展的 DOE 资助电池研究，涵盖四个交织的方向：液流电池、硅负极、自主式 ML 驱动发现、膜材料与锂回收。从基础分子设计到产业转化的全链条工作。
DOE / JCESR public-facing projects
4Primary funded research at Argonne, 2010 – 2023
- Designed liquid catholytes ANL-8/9 — featured in Argonne Today and JCESR Research Highlights
- Discovered the lightest organic radical cation for charge storage (Sci. Rep. 2016)
- Led the cross-institution low-potential Sprint (3 universities + 2 national labs)
- Led JCESR 2.0 Y3 milestone for self-reporting fluorescent redoxmers
- First systematic study of PAA molecular-weight effect on silicon-anode performance
- Identified Mn 24–150 kDa as the optimal range; revealed low-MW PAA causes ester cleavage and adhesion loss
- Developed crosslinked siloxane-based binders integrating adhesion and elasticity
- Co-author of the 2023 DOE Flow Batteries Technology Strategy Assessment
- Contributed to the Storage Innovations 2030 framework launched at the 2022 Energy Storage Grand Challenge Summit
- Engaged industry listening session: 22 attendees from 14 commercial entities
LDRD / internal Argonne research
8Laboratory-Directed R&D and exploratory programs, 2018 – ongoing
- Multi-electron redoxmers (TMPD, DMN, MPT) → up to 1183 Wh/kg theoretical specific energy
- Mixed-flow battery demonstration with BODMA cycling 150+ times stably
- ALD / sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) for tunable flow-battery membranes
- Foundation for the AI + robotics electrolyte-discovery platform that became the 2024 Nature Communications paper
- Waste polystyrene → ion-exchange membranes for aqueous flow batteries and lithium extraction
- US non-provisional patent application (63/734,300) filed 2024-12-16
- 3D printing for solid-state battery interface engineering
- Fluoropolymer-removal binder-solvent system for direct Li-ion cathode recycling
- Crown-ether-modified cation exchange membranes for selective Li recovery via electrodialysis
- US application 2024/0252991 A1 (pending)
AI / ML / autonomous-discovery platforms
3Computational and robotic acceleration of materials discovery
- Multiobjective Bayesian optimization for redox-active molecule discovery
- Earliest of his ML-driven design publications
- Robotic chemistry + active learning → accelerated discovery of optimal electrolyte formulations
- Direct precursor to rfb-formulation-agent — the personal AI scientist project
- Autonomous discovery framework extended from RFB electrolytes to Li-metal battery electrolytes
Membrane materials & lithium recovery
3Functional membranes — flow batteries, plastic upcycling, ionic separation
- Atomic-layer deposition / sequential infiltration synthesis of flow-battery membranes
- Waste polystyrene → battery separator membranes for liquid-electrolyte and aqueous flow batteries
- Patent advanced to finalized US non-provisional draft (ANL 23-T-154 / ANL-IN-22-134)
- Manuscript in preparation
能力主题
Cross-cutting expertise developed across the projects above.
Lithium-ion electrolytes & additives
Non-aqueous and aqueous redox flow batteries / redoxmer chemistry
Functional membranes & ionic-selective separation
High-throughput robotic & AI/ML autonomous discovery
Advanced manufacturing — 3D printing, recycling, binders
团队成长
| Year | Group / leadership |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 postdoc |
| 2014 | 1 postdoc + 1 student |
| 2015 | 1 postdoc + visiting student · led JCESR low-potential Sprint (3 universities + 2 labs) |
| 2016 – 2017 | 2 postdocs + 2 students · led electrolyte-optimization Sprint (UIUC, PNNL, ANL) |
| 2018 | 3 postdocs + 1 student · JCESR 2.0 sub-thrust lead |
| 2020 – 2023 | 3 postdocs + 1 student · JCESR Y3 milestone lead |
主要合作
| MIT | Prof. Fikile Brushett — anolyte molecule design | since 2014 |
| PNNL | Flow battery testing & cell engineering | since 2015 |
| UIUC | Electrolyte design & molecular modeling | since 2015 |
| University of Michigan | ROMs stability studies | since 2016 |
| Daimler | Industrial overcharge-protection translation | 2020 |