Disorderly conduct: battery cathode materials behaving badly
Hot drinks and refreshments available from 3:30pm in the Hume-Rothery Meeting Room (ground floor, adjacent to Reception)
One of the biggest challenges in battery development is how to increase their energy density. The cathode material represents a major fundamental limitation. Layered oxides, such as LiNi0.9Mn0.05Co0.05O2 and NaNi1/3Mn1/3Fe1/3O2, remain the best class of materials for the highest energy density Li-ion and Na-ion cells. However, to increase further the amount of energy they can store requires moving to alkali-rich cathodes (ie Li:TM>1) and contending with structural instability at high states of charge.

In this talk, I will discuss recent advances we have made in understanding the behaviour of next generation cathode materials. I will explore how oxide ions in the structure participate in the energy storage reaction to store extra charge. I will show how this O-redox reaction drives structural order-disorder transitions and results in the formation of O2 molecules trapped within the structure. I will illustrate how we have applied this understanding to overcome some of the critical issues they face and to develop improved Li-rich cathode materials. I will also look beyond layered oxides to discuss advances and opportunities in alkali-rich disordered rocksalt cathodes for beyond Li batteries.
Date: 1 May 2025, 16:00
Venue: Hume-Rothery Building, Parks Road OX1 3PH
Venue Details: Lecture Theatre (ground floor, next to the reception foyer). What3Words to our front door are: 'Lace.Media.Gallons'.
Speaker: Professor Robert House (University of Oxford, Department of Materials)
Organising department: Department of Materials
Organiser: Lorraine Laird (Department of Materials)
Organiser contact email address: reception@materials.ox.ac.uk
Host: Professor Mauro Pasta (University of Oxford)
Part of: Materials Departmental Colloquia
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Public
Editor: Lorraine Laird