Energy Harvesting and Storage Related Research:
The current research is mainly focused on fundamental, transformative and innovative biomaterials, biosensors and
energy related research directed at fostering clean energy, regenerative therapies, national security, human
welfare and next generation
workforce. The main focus of research in all of these areas will be to develop (a) rapid experimental synthesis
and processing tools; quantitative analytical and characterization tools; accelerated testing and rapid
prototyping; techniques to validate
and advance bio materials and materials theory and (b) computational tools for predictive modeling, exploration,
simulation and design.
The ultimate vision of energy related research is the development of a coherent computational model and concomitant
advanced experimental tools enabling rapid screening, development and manufacturing of advanced energy related
materials with significant
cost benefits. The research group focuses on identification of ultra-low noble metal/non-noble metal
electrocatalysts (EC) and photoelectrocatalyst (PEC) for water electrolysis, fuel cell and air battery, and
carbon capture through CO2 conversion to fuel. In the field of electrical energy storage technologies
based on rechargeable batteries (Li-ion, Na- ion, Mg- ion batteries), supercapacitor and flow batteries, the
research is directed at fulfilling the vision for meeting the EV (electric vehicle) everywhere grand
challenge and Renewable Energy Storage goal of
DOE. In this direction, the research is focused at rapid synthesis and advanced
characterization of next-generation energy related materials in 1D nanotube, nanowire, 2D nono-film, nano-sheet
or 3D hierarchical structures consisting of nano-particles
or nanocomposites.
High Efficiency Electrocatalyst and
Photoelectrocatalyst

High Efficiency and Robust Electrocatalytic Response of One Dimensional Nano-rods for Oxygen
Evolution
Reaction in
PEM based Water Electrolysis.
Electrocatalysis
(EC) and photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) are the cornerstones of various energy applications including
hydrogen
evolution/oxidation (HER/HOE), oxygen evolution reaction (OER) (water oxidation), oxygen reduction
reaction for
hydrogen (ORR), methanol oxidation/reduction,
and myriad other chemical processes. In this area, the research group mainly conducts fundamental
theoretical
and experimental studies to develop cost effective and durable ultra-low platinum group metals (PGM) or
PGM-free
EC/PEC for OER and ORR.
In the present investigation, a predictive design tool and methodology based on theoretical DFT
calculation has
been developed. Accordingly, in the experimental section, a 2D thin film model system (e.g. Sn-Ir-oxide,
Mn-Ir-oxide OER in PEM based water
electrolysis) has been synthesized and characterized for the electronic, atomic/molecular level
structure, while
also assessing the energy conversion/storage properties to exactly understand the
process-structure-property
relationships. Such structure-property
relationships will be very helpful for the design and synthesis of suitable electro-catalyst in
different
"material length scale" (e.g. 0D, 1D and 3D nanostructured dimension) as well as serving to ultimately
develop
PGM-free electro-catalysts. The
theoretical and experimental studies will thus work synergistically to determine not only the bulk and
surface
atomic and electronic level structure and composition that are effective in terms of EC/PEC response but
also
help to understand the underlying
detailed mechanisms. Understanding of the mechanisms will then serve to effectively fine tune and design
the
EC/PEC system helping to unravel the fundamental pathways leading to the identification of high
efficient EC/PEC
for various energy storage
and conversion.

Active and robust novel bilayer photoanode architectures for hydrogen generation via direct
non-electric
bias
induced photo-electrochemical water splitting"
Rechargeable
Battery Research:
Among the different EES technologies developed based on the fundamental electrochemical reaction, lithium
batteries
(LBs) have emerged as the flagship technologies offering the much desired panacea for high energy and
high power
applications such as in
the advanced portable electronics, electric powered vehicle, military applications as well as
stand-alone
stationary power systems integrated into the electric grid. Since the commercialization of Li-ion
batteries by
Sony, lithium ion chemistries
represent a significant step forward in battery technology having a high energy density, safety and are
ideal
for cyclic applications.
Stable
operation of Si based anode for Li ion batteries
Silicon (Si) has been extensively studied as high capacity anode for next generation high energy Li-ion
batteries
(LIBs). However, fast capacity fade still largely limits its practical applications. Due to
pulverization and
subsequent loss of electrical
contact, repeated breaking/formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and continuous consumption of
electrolyte are the major problems caused by the large volume change during lithiation and delithiation.
The
main goal of this project is to develop
low cost synthesis approaches for Si-containing anode materials to enable their practical application in
Li-ion
batteries (LIB) for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and electric vehicles (EV). The developed Si
based
anode has a capacity exceeding
1000 mAh/g while retaining 80% of capacity in EV battery cycles. The research focuses on the development
of
innovative approaches to generate novel Si/C and Si/lightweight-inactive-matrix (LIM)-based anodes as
well as
novel morphology of Si-based
anodes such as ex situ “core shell” amorphous and nanocrystalline (nc) nanoparticles,
hollow
nanostructures (nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes, nanoflakes), nanoscale droplets, on myriad C and other
LIMs by
novel low-cost, viable, HEMM
and economical template-derived chemical and solution approaches using economical, environmentally
benign, and
safe Si precursors to overcome the problems associated with large first cycle irreversible (FIR)
capacity loss,
while achieving acceptable
coulombic efficiencies and cyclability by minimizing the colossal volume expansion related to Si cycling
and
reversible capacity limitations.
1. Rigved Epur, Madhumati Ramanathan, Moni K. Datta, Dae Ho Hong, Prashanth H. Jampani, Bharat Gattu,
Prashant
N. Kumta, “Scribable multi-walled carbon nanotube-silicon nanocomposites: a viable lithium-ion battery
system”,
Nanoscale, 2015,7, 3504-3510.
2. Rigved Epur, Prashanth H. Jampani, Moni K. Datta, Dae Ho Hong, , Bharat Gattu, Prashant N. Kumta, “A
simple
and scalable approach to hollow silicon nanotube (h-SiNT) anode architectures of superior
electrochemical
stability and reversible capacity”,
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 11117-11129.
3. Bharat Gattu, Rigved Epur, Prashanth H. Jampani, Ramalinga Kuruba, Moni K. Datta and Prashant N.
Kumta,
“Silicon-Carbon Core-Shell (C@Si@C) Hollow Nanotubular Configuration - High Performance Lithium-Ion
Anodes”,
Journal of Physical Chemistry
- C, 2017, 121 (18), pp 9662–9671.
4. Bharat Gattu, Prashanth H. Jampani, Moni K. Datta and Prashant N. Kumta, “Water-soluble template
derived
nanoscale silicon nano-flakes and nano-rods morphologies: stable architectures for lithium ion anodes”,
Nanoresearch, 2017.
5. B. Gattu, R. Epur, P. Shanti, P.H. Jampani, R. Kuruba, M.K. Datta, A. Manivannan, P.N. Kumta,
“Pulsed
current electrodeposition of silicon thin film anodes for lithium-ion battery applications”, Inorganics,
2017,
5(2), 27.
Beyond
Li-ion batteries:
- -sulfur (Li-S) batteries, Li-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries, Li metal anode vs ultra-low
cobalt
content intercalation type cathode batteries, etc., indicate a huge increase in theoretical
energy
density relative to the current LIBs (Li-O2,
3505 Wh/kg; Li-S, 2600 Wh/kg). A safe and efficient operation of lithium metal anodes will
therefore
decide the fate for next-generation energy storage systems of cost £$75/kWh, including
rechargeable
Li-air batteries, Li-sulfur batteries, and
future Li metal batteries.
Engineering
Approches to Dendrite free Li metal anodes:
- ³ 400 Wh/kg and ≥750Wh/l with a cost target $75/kWh and cycle life of atleast 1000 cycles for
meeting the
EV
everywhere blueprint.
Electrochemically Stable
High Energy Density Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
Lithium–sulfur battery (LSB) technology is widely investigated as an attractive alternative to currently used
Li-ion
battery (LIB) chemistries for the EV/PEV industry due to the superior theoretical capacity (1674 mAh/g)
and
specific energy density (2600
Wh/kg) of elemental sulfur. However, the dissolution of sulfur via formation of soluble polysulfides
(PSs) (i.e.
poor capacity retention) and the inferior electronic conductivity of S (barrier to active materials
utilization)
are primary limitations
of LSB’s continuing to hinder the much awaited commercialization path. Current generation sulfur
cathodes show
low specific storage capacity, very poor charging rates and low loading densities. To obviate the
primary
problems of (a) low overall electrode
capacity (mAh/g-active material) occurring due to low electronic conductivity of sulfur (b) poor cycling
stability owing to polysulfide (PS) dissolution (c) voltage drop due to PS transport across and
deposition at
lithium anode (d) poor coulombic
efficiency (CE), the present work involves identification and synthesis of novel Li ion conductor
matrix-coated
sulfur nanoparticles and composite sulfur cathodes using complex framework materials, and doped sulfur
cathodes
consisting of sulfur electrocatalyst
for rapid conversion of polysulfides to lithium disulfide. The work involves incorporation of the
optimized
electrodes into lithium-S pouch cells and evaluation and optimization of electrode properties to
maximize
capacity, reduce fade and improve
coulombic efficiency. Work is also driven towards optimization of electrode characteristics using
morphological
engineering and 3-D engineering approaches including 3-D printing to improve the interfacial
characteristics of
the Li-S full-cells.
Beyond
Li batteries:
The Li-ion arena has witnessed extensive research and is currently the flag ship energy storage system (ESS)
for all
consumer, portable, and professional applications. Safety and cost are still major hurdles attracting
interest
in other systems. The ability
of Na+ and Mg
+2 to cycle similar to Li+ with a theoretical capacity of 1100 Ah/kg combined with
its
larger abundance and lower costs enables Na and Mg based systems with possible energy densities of ~500
Wh/kg in
the 3-5 V open circuit voltage
range a feasible option for automotive transportation, grid scale, and defense related energy storage
applications. The current work is focused on theoretical and experimental effort to develop
revolutionary
Na+ rechargeable batteries based
energy storage strategies focused on fundamental science, and technology. The current research is
focused on
identification and development of approaches to generate novel anodes (e.g. Sn, P) and cathodes
(NaMn2O4).