Engineering Commons^™

Long-Range Aceo Phenomena In Microfluidic Channel, Diganta Dutta, Keifer Smith, Xavier Palmer

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Microfluidic devices are increasingly utilized in numerous industries, including that of medicine, for their abilities to pump and mix fluid at a microscale. Within these devices, microchannels paired with microelectrodes enable the mixing and transportation of ionized fluid. The ionization process charges the microchannel and manipulates the fluid with an electric field. Although complex in operation at the microscale, microchannels within microfluidic devices are easy to produce and economical. This paper uses simulations to convey helpful insights into the analysis of electrokinetic microfluidic device phenomena. The simulations in this paper use the Navier–Stokes and Poisson Nernst–Planck equations solved using COMSOL …

Carbon-Based Artificial Sei Layers For Aqueous Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes, Usha Subramanya, Charleston Chua, Victor Gin He Leong, Ryan Robinson, Gwenlyn Cruz Cabiltes, Prakirti Singh, Bonnie Yip, Anuja Bokare, Folarin Erogbogbo, Dahyun Oh

Faculty Publications

Replacing flammable organic electrolytes with aqueous electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries (LIB) can greatly enhance the safety of next-generation energy storage systems. With the extended electrochemical stability window of electrolytes, 'water-in-salt' (WIS) electrolytes containing LIB presented significant performance improvements. However, the solubility limits of lithium salts in water restrain the extent of kinetic protection offered by the high salt concentration. Here, we report design strategies of anode structure to improve the cycle life of LIB with WIS electrolytes. We introduced partially graphitic protective carbon layers on anode particles using a versatile coating method. This protective layer not only improved charge transfer …

Early Acid/Base And Electrolyte Changes In Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion: Aged Male And Female Rats, Sarah R. Martha, Lisa A. Collier, Stephanie M. Davis, Sarah J. Goodwin, David Powell, Doug Lukins, Justin F. Fraser, Keith R. Pennypacker

Neurosurgery Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Early changes in acid/base and electrolyte concentrations could provide insights into the development of neuropathology at the onset of stroke. We evaluated associations between acid/base and electrolyte concentrations, and outcomes in permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) model.

METHODS: 18-month-old male and female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent pMCAO. Pre-, post- (7 min after occlusion), and at 72 hr of pMCAO venous blood samples provided pH, carbon dioxide, oxygen, glucose, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and electrolyte values of ionized calcium, potassium, and sodium. Multiple linear regression determined predictors of infarct and edema volumes from these values, Kaplan-Meier curve analyzed morality between males and …

Structure-Property Relationships Of Organic Electrolytes And Their Effects On Li/S Battery Performance, Mohammad Kaiser, Shulei Chou, Hua-Kun Liu, Shi Xue Dou, Chunsheng Wang, Jiazhao Wang

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

Electrolytes, which are a key component in electrochemical devices, transport ions between the sulfur/carbon composite cathode and the lithium anode in lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). The performance of a LSB mostly depends on the electrolyte due to the dissolution of polysulfides into the electrolyte, along with the formation of a solid-electrolyte interphase. The selection of the electrolyte and its functionality during charging and discharging is intricate and involves multiple reactions and processes. The selection of the proper electrolyte, including solvents and salts, for LSBs strongly depends on its physical and chemical properties, which is heavily controlled by its molecular structure. In …

Ultrathin Conductive Ceo₂ Coating For Significant Improvement In Electrochemical Performance Of Limn₁.₅Ni₀.₅O₄ Cathode Materials, Rajankumar L. Patel, Sai Abhishek Palaparty, Xinhua Liang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄ (LMNO) has a huge potential for use as a cathode material in electric vehicular applications. However, it could face discharge capacity degradation with cycling at elevated temperatures due to attacks by hydrofluoric acid (HF) from the electrolyte, which could cause cationic dissolution. To overcome this barrier, we coated 3-5 micron sized LMNO particles with a ∼3 nm optimally thick and conductive CeO₂ film prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD). This provided optimal thickness for mass transfer resistance, species protection, and mitigation of cationic dissolution at elevated temperatures. After 1,000 cycles of chargedischarge between …

Enhanced Cycle Life And Capacity Retention Of Iron Oxide Ultrathin Film Coated Sno₂ Nanoparticles At High Current Densities, Sai Abhishek Palaparty, Rajankumar L. Patel, Xinhua Liang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Tin oxide (SnO₂) has a high theoretical capacity (∼782 mA h g^-1), but it experiences large volume changes during charge and discharge cycles that cause rapid capacity fade, which limits its practical use as an anode material. In an attempt to solve this, we coated these particles with ultrathin electrochemically active iron oxide (FeO_x) films that act as an artificial solid electrolyte interphase layer, thus stabilizing the SnO₂ particles for better longevity of significantly improved performance at high current densities in a practical voltage window. Since there exists a tradeoff between species transport …

Novel Reversible And Switchable Electrolytes Based On Magneto-Rheology, Jie Ding, Gangrou Peng, Kewei Shu, Caiyun Wang, Tongfei Tian, Wenrong Yang, Yuanchao Zhang, Gordon G. Wallace, Weihua Li

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Replacing organic liquid electrolytes with solid electrolytes has led to a new perspective on batteries, enabling high-energy battery chemistry with intrinsically safe cell designs. However, most solid/gel electrolytes are easily deformed; under extreme deformation, leakage and/or short-circuiting can occur. Here, we report a novel magneto-rheological electrolyte (MR electrolyte) that responds to changes in an external magnetic field; the electrolyte exhibits low viscosity in the absence of a magnetic field and increased viscosity or a solid-like phase in the presence of a magnetic field. This change from a liquid to solid does not significantly change the conductivity of the MR electrolyte. …

Flexible Electrodes And Electrolytes For Energy Storage, Caiyun Wang, Gordon G. Wallace

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

The advent of flexible, wearable electronics has placed new demands on energy storage systems. The demands for high energy density achieved through the use of highly conducting materials with high surface area that enable facile electrochemical processes must now be coupled with the need for robustness and flexibility in each of the components: electrodes and electrolytes. This perspective provides an overview of materials and fabrication protocols used to produce flexible electrodes and electrolytes. We also discuss the key challenges in the development of high performance flexible energy storage devices. Only selected references are used to illustrate the myriad of developments …

Towards Understanding The Lithium Transport Mechanism In Garnet-Type Solid Electrolytes: Li+ Ions Exchanges And Their Mobility At Octahedral/Tetrahedral Sites, Da-Wei Wang, Guiming Zhong, Wei Kong Pang, Zaiping Guo, Yixiao Li, Matthew J. Mcdonald, Riqiang Fu, Jin-Xiao Mi, Yong Yang

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

The cubic garnet-type solid electrolyte Li7La3Zr2O12 with aliovalent doping exhibits a high ionic conductivity, reaching up to ∼10−3 S/cm at room temperature. Fully understanding the Li+ transport mechanism including Li+ mobility at different sites is a key topic in this field, and Li7−2x−3yAlyLa3Zr2−xWxO12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) are selected as target electrolytes. X-ray and neutron diffraction as well as ac impedance results show that a low amount of aliovalent substitution of Zr with W does not obviously affect the crystal structure and the activation energy of Li+ ion jumping, but it does noticeably vary the distribution of Li+ ions, …

Three-Dimensional-Network Li3v2(Po4) 3/C Composite As High Rate Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Material And Its Compatibility With Ionic Liquid Electrolytes, Jiantie Xu, Shulei Chou, Cuifeng Zhou, Qinfen Gu, Hua-Kun Liu, S X. Dou

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

A high performance Li3V2(PO4)3 cathode material for lithium ion batteries was synthesized by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method followed by a post annealing process. The synchrotron X-ray diffraction analysis results confirmed that single-phase Li3V2(PO4)3 with monoclinic structure was obtained. Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope images revealed that the as-prepared Li3V 2(PO4)3 was composed of nanowires and microsized particles. Electrochemical results demonstrated that the Li 3V2(PO4)3 electrode measured at 10 C after 500 cycles can deliver discharge capacities of 85.4 mAh g-1 and 103.4 mAh g-1, with a capacity retention of 99.3% and 95.9%, in the voltage ranges of 3.0-4.3 …

Polypyrrole As Cathode Materials For Zn-Polymer Battery With Various Biocompatible Aqueous Electrolytes, Sha Li, Irin Sultana, Zaiping Guo, Caiyun Wang, G G. Wallace, Hua-Kun Liu

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

Polypyrrole films doped with p-toluenesulfonic anions on stainless steel mesh substrates were prepared by the electropolymerization method. A Zn/aqueous solution/polymer battery system was thus established with the polymer film as the cathode and three different biocompatible aqueous electrolytes. The mechanism of the anode reaction can be explained as the dissolution of Zn. It was found, however, that the discharge performance, including the discharge plateaus and capacities, were significantly affected by the polymer reactions. To elucidate the reaction mechanisms of the conductive polymer, its electrochemical properties were systematically studied by several techniques, including cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and monitoring mass …

High Strain Stretchable Solid Electrolytes, Sureyya Saricilar, Dennis Antiohos, Kewei Shu, Philip G. Whitten, Klaudia Wagner, Caiyun Wang, Gordon G. Wallace

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

Wearable electronic devices that can be integrated seamlessly into clothing for monitoring and feedback need to be not only flexible, but also stretchable with low stiffness. Currently there are few solid electrolytes that are sufficiently stretchable for wearable electronic devices. Here we report stretchable solid electrolytes that can be elastically stretched more than 500% of their original length with ionic conductivities as high as 7 x 10(-5) S cm(-1) and tensile breaking strengths larger than 1.5 MPa. These solid electrolytes consist of poly(methyl methacrylate) chemical networks solvated by an electrochemically stable ionic liquid. A stretchable supercapacitor was demonstrated by coating …

Microporous Gel Polymer Electrolytes For Lithium Rechargeable Battery Application, Nurul Hayati Idris, Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, Jia-Zhao Wang, Hua-Kun Liu

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

Microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PVDF/PMMA) membranes were prepared using the phase-separation method. Then, the membranes were immersed in liquid electrolyte to form polymer electrolytes. The effects of PMMA on the morphology, degree of crystallinity, porosity, and electrolyte uptake of the PVDF membrane were studied. The addition of PMMA increased the pore size, porosity and electrolyte uptake of the PVDF membrane, which in turn increased the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte. The maximum ionic conductivity at room temperature was 1.21 × 10−3 S cm−1 for Sample E70. The polymer electrolyte was investigated, along with lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) as cathode …

Effect Of Electrical Double Layer On Electric Conductivity And Pressure Drop In A Pressure-Driven Microchannel Flow, Heng Ban, Bochuan Lin, Zhourui Song

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The effect of an electrical double layer (EDL) on microchannel flow has been studied widely, and a constant bulk electric conductivity is often used in calculations of flow rate or pressure drop. In our experimental study of pressure-driven micropipette flows, the pipette diameter is on the same order of magnitude as the Debye length. The overlapping EDL resulted in a much higher electric conductivity, lower streaming potential, and lower electroviscous effect. To elucidate the effect of overlapping EDL, this paper developed a simple model for water flow without salts or dissolved gases (such as CO₂) inside a two-dimensional …

An Efficient Electrochemical–Thermal Model For A Lithium-Ion Cell By Using The Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Method, Long Cai, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

The proper orthogonal decomposition method was applied to develop an efficient, reduced order electrochemical–thermal model for a lithium-ion cell. This model was validated for discharge simulations over a wide range of C rates and various cooling conditions of the cell. The reduced order model agrees well with the COMSOL model, a commercial finite element method solver, and requires times less computation time than the COMSOL model. The model predictions indicate that the discharge time or percent of capacity removed from the cell at an end of discharge voltage of 3.0 V depends on the rate of the discharge and heat …

La0.85Sr0.15Mno3− Infiltrated Y0.5Bi1.5O3 Cathodes For Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Jiang Zhiyi, Changrong Xia, Fei Zhao, Fanglin Chen

Faculty Publications

Porous yttria-stabilized bismuth oxides (YSB) were investigated as the backbones for (LSM) infiltrated cathodes in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. The cathodes were evaluated using anode-supported single cells with scandia-stabilized zirconia as the electrolytes. With humidified as the fuel, the cell showed peak power density of 0.33, 0.52, and at 650, 700, and , respectively. At , the cell polarization resistance was only , of the lowest value previously reported, indicating that YSB is a promising backbone for the LSM infiltrated cathode.

Analytical Expression For The Impedance Response For A Lithium-Ion Cell, Godfrey Sikha, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

An analytical expression to predict the impedance response of a dual insertion electrode cell (insertion electrodes separated by an ionically conducting membrane) is presented. The expression accounts for the reaction kinetics and double-layer adsorption processes at the electrode-electrolyte interface, transport of electroactive species in the electrolyte phase, and insertion of species in the solid phase of the insertion electrodes. The accuracy of the analytical expression is validated by comparing the impedance response predicted by the expression to the corresponding numerical solution. The analytical expression is used to predict the impedance response of a lithium-ion cell consisting of a porous LiCoO …

Thermal Model For A Li-Ion Cell, Karthikeyan Kumaresan, Godfrey Sikha, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A thermal model for a lithium-ion cell is presented and used to predict discharge performance at different operating temperatures. The results from the simulations are compared to experimental data obtained from lithium-ion pouch cells. The model includes a set of parameters (and their concentration and temperature dependencies) that has been obtained for a lithium-ion cell composed of a mesocarbon microbead anode, LiCoO₂ cathode in 1 M LiPF₆ salt, in a mixture of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, ethyl-methyl carbonate, and diethyl carbonate electrolyte. The parameter set was obtained by comparing the model predictions to the experimental discharge profiles obtained …

A Mathematical Model For A Lithium–Sulfur Cell, Karthikeyan Kumaresan, Yuriy Mikhaylik, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A mathematical model is presented for a complete lithium–sulfur cell. The model includes various electrochemical and chemical (precipitation) reactions, multicomponent transport phenomena in the electrolyte, and the charge transfer within and between solid and liquid phases. A change in the porosity of the porous cathode and separator due to precipitation reactions is also included in the model. The model is used to explain the physical reasons for the two-stage discharge profiles that are typically obtained for lithium–sulfur cells.

Synthesis And Characterization Of Srbi4ti4o15 Ferroelectric Filler Based Composite Polymer Electrolytes For Lithium Ion Batteries, Devaraj Shanmukaraj, Guoxiu Wang, Hua-Kun Liu, R Murugan

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) (Mol.Wt similar to 6 x 10(5)) complexed with LiN(CF3SO2)(2) lithium salt and SrBi4Ti4O15 ferroelectric ceramic filler have been prepared as films. Citrate gel technique and conventional solid state technique were employed for the synthesis of the ferroelectric fillers in order to study the effect of particle size of the filler on ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and temperature dependant DC conductivity studies were taken for the prepared polymer composite electrolytes. The broadening of DTA …

Electrode Performance Test On Single Ceramic Fuel Cells Using As Electrolyte Sr‐ And Mg‐Doped Lagao3, Kevin Huang, Man Feng, John B. Goodenough, Christopher Milliken

Faculty Publications

The electrode performance of a single solid oxide fuel cell was evaluated using a 500 μm thick La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_2.85 (LSGM) as the electrolyte membrane. Comparison of La_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-δ (LSCo) and La_0.9Sr_0.1MnO₃ (LSM) as cathodes showed LSCo gave an exchange current density two orders of magnitude higher than that of LSM. Comparison of CeO₂/Ni and LSGM/Ni as anodes showed a degradation of the latter with time, and studies of the anode‐electrolyte interface and the reactivity of NiO and LSGM suggest better anode …

Electrowinning Of Nonnoble Metals With Simultaneous Hydrogen Evolution At Flow-Through Porous Electrodes Iii. Time Effects, Mahmoud M. Saleh, John W Weidner, Bahgat E. El-Anadouli, Badr G. Ateya

Faculty Publications

The electrowinning of zinc from a recirculating alkaline zincate solution at a flow-through porous electrode was investigated. Experimental results were obtained to test the predictions of a mathematical model. The effects of electrolyte flow rate, cell current, and electrode thickness on the concentration-time relations and coulombic efficiency-time relations were studied. The experimental results show that the highest recovery rate was obtained at both high flow rates and cell currents. There is, however, a practical limit for increasing both the cell current and the electrolyte flow rate. Reasonable agreement between the model predictions and experimental results was obtained. A case study …

Governing Equations For Transport In Porous Electrodes, Pauline De Vidts, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Galvanostatic Pulse And Pulse Reverse Plating Of Zinc–Nickel Alloys From Sulfate Electrolytes On A Rotating Disc Electrode, Branko Popov, M. Ramasubramanian, S. N. Popova, Ralph E. White, Ken-Ming Yin

Faculty Publications

Galvanostatic pulse and pulse reverse techniques have been used to study the plating of zinc–nickel alloys in the presence of nonyl phenyl polyethylene oxide. The effects of average current density, rotation speed of disc electrode and the presence of nonyl phenyl polyethylene oxide in the electrolyte on deposition of zinc–nickel alloys were evaluated. Zinc–nickel plating bath solution chemistry was studied by determining the equilibrium concentrations at various pH levels. It was found that the alloy composition was determined by solution equilibria, mass transfer of the electroactive species within the diffusion layer and by the surface coverage of nonyl phenyl polyethylene …

Galvanostatic Pulse And Pulse Reverse Plating Of Nickel-Iron Alloys From Electrolytes Containing Organic Compounds On A Rotating Disk Electrode, Branko N. Popov, Ken-Ming Yin, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

Linear sweep voltammetry, galvanostatic pulse, and pulse reverse techniques were used to study the plating of nickel-iron alloys in the presence of organic additives. The effects of pulse current densities, i_p, reverse current densities, i_r, rotation speed of disk electrode, and the presence of organic additives on deposition of nickel-iron alloys are evaluated. The observed phenomena can be explained by the concentration depletion of reactants (or products), and the surface coverage of the additives on the electrode. A new formulation of the plating bath is defined.

A Mathematical Model Of A Sealed Nickel-Cadmium Battery, Deyuan Fan, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A mathematical model for the charge and discharge of a sealed nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery is presented. The model is used to study the effect of transport properties of the electrolyte and kinetic parameters of the electrode reactions on the cell performance during the charge and discharge period. The model can also be used to demonstrate the changes of cell performance during cycling. Some comparisons between model predictions and experimental results indicate that the model predictions appear to fit the experimental data well. Sensitivity analyses illustrate that the sealed nickel-cadmium battery operates under activation control. It is also shown theoretically that …

The Effects Of Separator Design On The Discharge Performance Of A Starved Lead-Acid Cell, T. V. Nguyen, Ralph E. White, Hiram Gu

Faculty Publications

A mathematical model of a starved lead-acid cell has been developed to study the dynamic behavior of the cell during discharge. Concentrated binary electrolyte theory and a volume-averaging technique were used to model the transport of electrolyte. The model can be used to predict cell voltage and profile of: acid concentration, overpotential, porosity, reaction rate, and electrode capacity, as functions of time. The effects of separator thickness and its porosity were examined with respect to cold-cranking amperage and reserve capacity of the battery. The separator was found to be a significant factor governing performance.

Electrochemical Behavior Of Graphite And Ni-Cr Electrodes In Sodium Polysulfide In The Absence And Presence Of Hydrogen Sulfide, Z. Mao, Ralph E. White, B. Dandapani, A. Anani, S. Srinivasan, A. J. Appleby

Faculty Publications

The electrochemical behavior of graphite and Ni-Cr electrodes in sodium tetrasulfide melt has been investigated using voltammetric, chronoamperometric, and chronopotentiometric techniques in the presence and absence of hydrogen sulfide. Two continuous phases, namely, Na₂S₂ and Na₂S, are apparently formed at different potentials during the cathodic polarization. The blocking effect by these layers was much less significant on the Ni-Cr electrode than on graphite. The presence of H₂S did not appear to influence the electrode reactions, but it significantly reduced the rate of formation of the continuous phases (Na₂S₂ or Na …

Electrochemical Production Of Hydrogen And Sulfur By Low-Temperature Decomposition Of Hydrogen Sulfide In An Aqueous Alkaline Solution, A. A. Anani, Z. Mao, Ralph E. White, S. Srinivasan, A. J. Appleby

Faculty Publications

Electrolysis of hydrogen sulfide to its constituents in a solution containing equimolar concentrations of NaOH and NaHS has been carried out at 80°C. In a double-compartment cell employing Nafion membrane as a separator, both crystalline elemental sulfur and high-purity hydrogen have been produced at high current efficiencies. Only minimal, if any, passivation of the anode by sulfur product was observed. According to solution composition, electrolysis could result in gas evolution at the anode, passivation of the anode by sulfur deposition, or oxidation of sulfide (S^2–) or polysulfide (S) to sulfur oxyanions. However, in an optimized solution, electrolysis gave …

A Mathematical Model Of A Lithium/Thionyl Chloride Primary Cell, T. I. Evans, T. V. Nguyen, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A one-dimensional mathematical model for the lithium/thionyl chloride primary cell has been developed to investigate methods of improving its performance and safety. The model includes many of the components of a typical lithium/thionyl chloride cell such as the porous lithium chloride film which forms on the lithium anode surface. The governing equations are formulated from fundamental conservation laws using porous electrode theory and concentrated solution theory. The model is used to predict one-dimensional, time dependent profiles of concentration, porosity, current, and potentialas well as cell temperature and voltage. When a certain discharge rate is required, the model can be used …