Abstract
The quest for cheaper, safer, higher-density, and more resource-abundant energy storage has driven significant battery innovations. In the context of materials development for next-generation batteries, organic battery electrode materials that store charge with dedicated redox groups have emerged as an exciting option complementary to inorganic materials and demonstrated unique advantages in novel battery technologies. In this presentation, I will review my group’s research activities in energy storage including a number of case studies. I will emphasize the organic battery materials design in emerging rechargeable battery technologies such as solid-state batteries, multivalent metal batteries, and aqueous batteries. I will also discuss an integrated battery diagnostic platform for structural, chemical, and mechanical characterizations that could provide fundamental insights into the failure mechanisms of solid-state batteries.
Bio
Dr. Yan Yao is Cullen Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Houston. He received Ph.D. from UCLA in 2008 in materials science and engineering. He was a senior scientist at Polyera Corporation and a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. In 2012, he joined the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2017, and Full Professor in 2020. Yao is recognized as a leading expert in materials for energy conversion and storage. His recent interests include solid-state batteries, multivalent-ion batteries, and aqueous batteries. Yao is the author of 110 peer-reviewed articles and 10 U.S. patents. He is the recipient of Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics, Scialog Collaborative Innovation Award and Cullen College of Engineering Professorship.
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