Research Interest

I. Research on Basic Science of Lithium Batteries Based on Material Gene Science and Engineering and New Paradigms of Structural Chemistry

Material genetics is a new paradigm of materials research. Our research group explores "What is the scientific core and key elements of material genetics?" And the development of high-throughput genetic engineering technologies for calculation, preparation, detection and database materials to accelerate the discovery of new materials. Exploring the internal structural elements and interactions of lithium battery materials is an important cornerstone to systematically study the basic and applied scientific problems of lithium battery. The research Center has developed a new paradigm of structural chemistry based on graph theory to build a big data system with more than 600,000 independent crystal structures and a knowledge map of phase structure evolution. By deconstructing all the crystal structures, three key elements such as structural primitives and their connections and interactions are obtained, and a big data system with millions of structural primitives and their connections is constructed. On the basis of structural chemistry and electrochemical research, cross-disciplinary collaborative innovation is organized to study the mechanism and control methods to improve the capacity, charge and discharge rate, safety and life of lithium battery materials and batteries.


II. Study of Structural Sequencing and Dynamic Evolution of Battery Materials Based on World-Class Scientific Apparatus

It is one of the research hotspots and difficulties in the field of new materials to reveal the local structure of lithium battery materials and the accurate information of the dynamic evolution of the structure during the preparation and use of materials based on advanced characterization techniques. By utilizing the respective advantages and complementarities of synchrotron radiation X-rays and neutrons, the research Center, in collaboration with other major scientific facilities such as spallation neutron Source in China (Dongguan), accurately measures structural ordering at atomic scale, such as structural elements, local structure, short-range and long-range order of solution and solid materials. An in situ study method was constructed to investigate the dynamic evolution process of materials during synthesis and charging and discharging applications.


III. Research and Development of High Performance Lithium Battery

At present, the research focus in the field of energy storage materials is to study high-performance lithium-ion battery materials with the help of interdisciplinary disciplines such as cross-scale theoretical simulation and calculation, atomic scale experimental regulation and in-situ linkage measurement. By studying the symmetry breaking and reconstruction mechanism of crystal structure elements at the interface, this research group explores and studies the interface problems of lithium batteries from micro to nano scale and atomic scale, providing valuable reference for the research of high-performance next-generation lithium battery materials. In addition, the research group established an in situ collaborative research system for atomic scale interface, and carried out basic research on the mechanism and law of electrochemical reconfiguration of interface and electrochemical dynamics of interface structure.


IV. Development of Energy Conversion Materials and Devices

The key to efficient conversion and utilization of clean energy is to carry out basic research on various new energy conversion mechanisms. Our research group is dedicated to the development of commercial grade high performance crystalline silicon solar cells, new thermoelectric materials, and OER/HER/ nitrogen fixing catalytic materials. The photovoltaic industrialization research center has been established, focusing on the research of new crystalline silicon cells, and the development of unique and industry-leading key materials for solar cells. The basic principle of grain interface characteristics and size optimization in thermoelectric materials is studied to provide beneficial exploration for the development of high performance thermoelectric materials at room temperature. Advanced structural characterization and mechanism analysis of theoretical calculation are combined to develop efficient, stable, low-cost and environmentally friendly photocatalytic materials. The research of a variety of key materials and devices provides technical support for the development of new energy and new material industry.