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ABSTRACT

The development of advanced materials and technologies to efficiently convert and store energy directly into electricity is of urgent importance due to increasing energy demands of an ever growing world population; and the growing need to diversify to renewable energy alternatives. Still, tremendous scientific challenges remain before successful implementation of any number of competing energy technologies such as low-temperature electrocatalysts for carbon zero hydrogen generation, and beyond lithium-ion energy storage systems can be adopted. The materials, interfaces and device architectures currently being explored are very challenging to interrogate by ensemble-averaging, bulk experimental methods since they do not exhibit long-range order or homogeneity, contain unique nano-morphological features and possess non-uniform chemical compositions and defect chemistry. Additionally, these materials and interfaces are dynamically “reactive” and their performance degrades significantly during operation which limits their cycle life and their ultimate commercialization prospects. This presentation will highlight our efforts to develop high-resolution, spatially resolved electro-analytical methods for studying the performance of redox-active materials used in electrochemical energy storage applications that are beyond Li-ion systems. [1-3] Information obtained from these new tools enables the elucidation of complex electron and ion transfer mechanisms and degradation processes in existing and emerging materials considered for next generation energy storage.

[3] Kapaev, R. R.; Shestakov, A. F.; Vasil’ev, S. G.; Stevenson, K. J. “A Conjugated Ladder-type Polymer with Hexaazatriphenylene Units as a Cathode Material for Lithium, Sodium and Potassium Batteries,” ACS Appl. Ener. Mater. 2021, 4(10), 10423.
[4] Kapaev, R. R.; Zhugayevych, A.; Ryazantsev, S. V.; Aksyonov, D. A.; Novichkov, D. Matveev, P.I.; Stevenson, K. J. “Charge Storage Mechanisms of a -d Conjugated Polymer for Alkali Metal Battery Anodes,” Chem. Sci. 2022, 13, 8161.
[5] Shraer, S. D.; Luchinin, N. D.; Trussov, I. A.; Aksyonov, D. A.; Morozov, A. V.; Ryazantsev, S. V.; Iarchuk, A. R.; Nikitina, V. A.; Stevenson, K. J.; Antipov, E. V.; Abakumov, A. M.; Fedotov, S. S. “Development of Vanadium-based Polyanion Positive Electrode Active Materials for High-voltage Sodium-based Batteries,” Nat. Comm. 2022, 13, 4097.

BIO

Professor Stevenson received his Ph.D. in 1997 from the University of Utah under the supervision of Professor Henry White. Subsequently, he held a postdoctoral appointment at Northwestern University (1997-2000); and a professorial appointment from 2000-2015 at the University of Texas at Austin. From 2014-2022 he led the development of a new graduate level university in Europe where he was the Provost, Full Faculty and founder of the Center for Energy Science and Technology (CEST).

Stevenson’s research interests are aimed at elucidating and controlling chemistry at solid/liquid interfaces vital to many emerging energy storage and energy conversion technologies. To date he has published over 350 peer-reviewed publications, 14 patents, and six book chapters in this field. He is a recipient of a NSF CAREER award (2002), the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools New Scholar Award (2004), the Society of Electroanalytical Chemistry Young Investigator Award (2006), Kavli Fellow (2012), the Society of Electroanalytical Chemistry Charles N. Reilley Award (2021), the Electrochemical Society David C. Grahame Award (2023) and the American Chemical Society Analytical Division Electrochemistry Award (2023).