Yuxiao Lin's recent paper "Connecting the irreversible capacity loss in Li-ion batteries with the electronic insulating properties of solid electrolyte interphase components", J. Power Sources 309, 221-230 (2016) is picked and featured by “Advances in Engineering” for the field of chemical engineering. In this work, a density function theory (DFT) - based electron tunneling model was used to assess the electronic insulating ability of inorganic SEI components (Li2CO3, LiF, Li3PO4), yielding useful quantifiable parameters - electron tunneling barrier, critical thickness & initial irreversible capacity loss caused by Li+ ion consumption.
This work is also highlighted by NEES, the Nanostructures for Electrical Energy Storage (NEES) EFRC is a multi-institutional research center, one of 46 Energy Frontier Research Centers established by the US Department of Energy in 2009. The center's focus is developing highly ordered nanostructures that offer a unique testbed for investigating the underpinnings of storing electrical energy. See NEES Research Highlight "From electron tunneling model to anode protection".
Yuxiao also won EFRC NEES 2016 Collaboration Travel Grant Award. He traveled to Universtiy of Maryland in the summer to conduct research on "Computational & Experimental investigation on the Electrode/Electrolyte Interphase in Rechargeable Batteries".