1135176_Chandran

1. Exploiting Electrochemically-induced Phase Transitions in Mg-Li Thin Film Electrodes for Ultra-high Capacity Energy StorageK. S. Ravi Chandran, University of Utah, DMR 1135176 The research is focused on investigating the feasibility of using Li(Mg) solid solution alloy as anodes for Li batteries for energy storage. The figure on the top right shows electrochemical discharge behavior of Li-30wt%Mg alloy anodes, discharged for different durations between 12-60 hours. X-ray diffraction (bottom figure) reveals that a gradual phase transformation from the Li-rich β phase to the Mg-rich α phase occurs as the discharge proceeds while giving a high energy storage capacity > 1200 mAh/g). This is a very significant finding. If the reverse phase transition (Li insertion in Mg) can be made to occur during charging, then the specific capacity of Li batteries can be increased by several times than current Li-ion capacity (about 270 mAh/g). To achieve this, further research with Mg thin films is in progress.