Welcome to Energy Storage Research Lab
Research & Initiatives
Innovating Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.
At the Energy Storage Research Laboratory (ESRL), we believe innovation begins with curiosity and thrives through collaboration. Our multidisciplinary team—uniting expertise in solid-state chemistry, materials science, and electrochemistry—works to develop sustainable, high-performance energy storage solutions, including Li/Na-ion batteries, supercapacitors, hybrid capacitors, and sulfur-based systems. From eco-friendly carbon and metal oxide material design to full-scale pouch and cylindrical cell fabrication, we bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world applications. Guided by a shared vision for a cleaner future, we push the boundaries of efficiency, safety, and longevity, transforming today’s challenges into technologies that will power generations to come.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries remain the cornerstone of modern energy storage systems, powering everything from portable electronics to electric vehicles, owing to their high energy density, long cycle life, and excellent efficiency. However, achieving further advancements in performance requires the development of advanced electrode materials that combine high specific capacity, superior rate capability, and robust structural stability. Our research focuses on tailoring lithium transition-metal phosphate and oxide materials through compositional tuning, morphology control, and hybrid synthesis approaches to enhance lithium storage and cycling performance. By integrating conductive carbon matrices and optimizing particle architecture, we aim to improve electronic conductivity, lithium-ion diffusion, and overall electrochemical stability. These innovations target safer, longer-lasting, and more sustainable Li-ion batteries for next-generation applications.
Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries are emerging as a promising alternative to lithium-ion systems, driven by the natural abundance, low cost, and wide geographic distribution of sodium. Despite their similar intercalation chemistry, the larger ionic radius of Na⁺ poses unique challenges in finding suitable host materials that can deliver both high capacity and excellent cycling stability. Our research explores advanced sodium-storage materials, including layered oxides, polyanionic compounds, and alloy-based anodes, with a focus on improving structural stability, mitigating volume changes, and enhancing Na⁺ diffusion kinetics. By employing compositional engineering, nano/microstructuring, and conductive network integration, we aim to optimize electrochemical performance in terms of capacity, rate capability, and cycle life. These efforts are directed toward creating cost-effective, sustainable, and high-energy-density Na-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage applications.
Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have emerged as a highly promising next-generation energy storage technology, offering an exceptional theoretical specific capacity of 1675 mAh/g and an energy density of 500–600 Wh/kg, significantly surpassing conventional lithium-ion systems. The natural abundance, low cost, and environmental friendliness of sulfur make Li–S batteries an attractive choice for large-scale applications such as electric vehicles and grid storage. Despite these advantages, challenges including the polysulfide shuttle effect, poor conductivity of sulfur, and volumetric changes during cycling hinder their commercial viability. Our research focuses on developing advanced cathode architectures, functional interlayers, and tailored electrolytes to suppress polysulfide migration, enhance electrical conductivity, and improve structural stability. Through these strategies, we aim to achieve high capacity retention, superior rate performance, and prolonged cycle life, accelerating the practical adoption of Li–S battery technology.
All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) represent a transformative step in energy storage technology, offering superior safety, higher energy density, and longer cycle life compared to conventional liquid-electrolyte batteries. By replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with solid-state electrolytes (SSEs), ASSBs eliminate risks of leakage and thermal runaway, making them highly attractive for electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid-scale storage. Our research focuses on designing and synthesizing advanced solid electrolytes including garnet-type oxides, sulfide-based conductors, and NASICON-type ceramics with high ionic conductivity and wide electrochemical stability windows. We also work on engineering stable electrode–electrolyte interfaces to minimize resistance and enable efficient ion transport. Through material innovations and interface optimization, we aim to deliver high-performance sodium- and lithium-based ASSBs with exceptional safety, energy efficiency, and durability, advancing the pathway toward sustainable and next-generation energy storage systems.
Supercapacitors, also known as electrochemical capacitors, are high-power energy storage devices that bridge the gap between conventional capacitors and rechargeable batteries. They offer ultrafast charge–discharge capability, long cycle life (over millions of cycles), and excellent power density, making them ideal for applications requiring rapid energy delivery, such as regenerative braking, backup power, and portable electronics. Our research focuses on developing advanced electrode materials including transition metal oxides, conducting polymers, and hierarchical carbon architectures with high surface area and tailored pore structures to maximize energy storage. We also explore hybrid supercapacitor systems that combine battery-like energy density with capacitor-like power density. By integrating innovative material design with optimized electrolyte formulations, we aim to create next-generation supercapacitors with enhanced performance, durability, and scalability for sustainable energy solutions.
Battery manufacturing is a pivotal stage in advancing next-generation energy storage technologies from concept to application. Our laboratory is equipped for both pouch cell and cylindrical cell fabrication, enabling the translation of optimized electrode materials into practical, testable formats. The process encompasses electrode slurry preparation, precision coating, calendaring, electrode cutting, stacking or winding, electrolyte filling, and final sealing under controlled conditions to ensure safety and consistency. This dual-format capability allows us to systematically evaluate material performance across different cell architectures, compare energy and power characteristics, and assess scalability for industrial applications. By bridging materials research with real-world cell engineering, we accelerate the pathway toward high-performance, reliable, and commercially viable energy storage solutions.
Thermal and Battery Management Systems (BMS) are critical for ensuring the safety, performance, and longevity of energy storage devices across applications ranging from electric vehicles to stationary grid solutions. The BMS monitors key parameters such as voltage, current, temperature, and state of charge (SoC), enabling precise control of charging and discharging cycles while preventing overcharging, deep discharge, and thermal runaway. Coupled with an effective thermal management system—employing liquid cooling, air cooling, or phase-change materials—these systems regulate temperature distribution, minimize degradation, and maintain uniform performance across cells. Our work focuses on integrating advanced sensing, real-time data analytics, and optimized thermal designs to develop robust, efficient, and scalable management systems that enhance battery safety, reliability, and operational efficiency.
Hydrogen storage is a key enabler for advancing hydrogen-based clean energy technologies, supporting applications in fuel cells, transportation, and grid-scale energy systems. Efficient storage solutions are essential to overcome hydrogen’s low volumetric energy density and address challenges related to safety, cost, and reversibility. Current strategies include compressed gas storage, cryogenic liquid hydrogen, and solid-state storage using metal hydrides, complex hydrides, or porous materials such as MOFs and carbon-based sorbents. Our research emphasizes optimizing storage capacity, kinetics, and thermodynamic stability through tailored material design and nanostructuring, aiming to deliver safe, high-density, and energy-efficient hydrogen storage systems. These developments are crucial for establishing a sustainable hydrogen economy and enabling large-scale renewable energy integration.
