Projects

Conducted patent searches in the field of polymer-containing anode protective layers for lithium metal batteries in order to identify technology of interest. Summarized patent contents as well as themes and trends among patents. Analyzed patented technology. Designed around patent claims to avoid patent infringement. Invented a new type of polymeric anode protective coating for lithium metal anodes. Defined patentable features of my invention. Analyzed the patentability and viability of my invention. Drafted patent claim and patent application to protect invention and ensure patentability in light of previous technology.

Conducted literature review to understand proposed discharge mechanisms in Li-CFx batteries. Tested existing hypotheses and identified plausible mechanism. Discovered crystal structure of new phase using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Published results as a letter in ACS Energy Letters journal.

Developed a robust method for obtaining lithium-nickel swapping energy for a given composition in layered oxide cathodes using density functional theory calculations. Elucidated three different mechanisms by which the cathode composition influences the energetics of lithium-nickel swapping.

Developed a novel wet-chemistry process to synthesize doped sodium titanate with core-shell concentration gradient. Prepared electrodes incorporating doped sodium titanate. Conducted electrochemical cycling on coin cells incorporating the electrodes.

This project marked my foray into the world of computational research.

Synthesized yttrium titanate powders using solid-state and wet-chemistry routes and characterized synthesized powders using X-ray diffraction and particle size analysis. Fabricated oxide dispersion-strenghtened steel pellets using ball milling followed by spark plasma sintering.

My very first research project!