We explore fundamental phenomenon governing battery performance across technical readiness levels. A couple of areas where postdoctoral support is required follow. 1. Diagnose complex discharge mechanisms of emerging batteries chemistries like ambient Na-S and anode-free Li-ion using unique characterization and instrumentation including: in-situ optical microscopy, in-situ spectroscopy, in-operando EXAFS, and ex-situ micro-CT and SEM. 2. Investigate the interplay of thermal and electrochemical energy. Battery charging and discharging produces heat and these behaviors are dependent on ambient environment. Build custom instrumented pouch cells and utilize novel isothermal battery calorimetry and accelerating rate calorimetry measurements.

 1. Carter, R.; NewRingeisen, A.; Reed, D.; Atkinson, R.W.; Mukherjee, P.P.; Love, C.T.; Optical Microscopy Reveals the Ambient Sodium Sulfur Discharge Mechanism, ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2021, 9, 1, 92–100.

2. Carter, R.; Kingston, T.A.; Atkinson, R.W.; Parmananda, M.; Dubarry, M.; Fear, C.; Mukherjee, P.P.; Love, C.T.; Directionality of Thermal Gradients in Li-ion Batteries Dictates Diverging Degradation Modes. Cell Reports Physical Science 2021, 2, 100351

3. Atkinson, R.W.; Kingston, T.A.; Klein, E.; NewRingeisen, A.; Carter, R.; Love, C.T.; Minimizing Lithium Deactivation during High-Rate Electroplating via Sub-Ambient Thermal Gradient Control, Materials Today Energy, 2020, 18, 100538.

key words

in-situ, sodium-sulfur battery, alkali-plating, thermo-electrochemical, battery, li-ion battery, in-operando, calorimetry

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants

Additional Benefits

Relocation

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

Health insurance

A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.