Materials Chemistry and Catalysis

Unravelling the influence of ion conductor-insulator interfaces on the electrochemical properties of nanocomposite solid electrolytes for next-generation batteries

---

Next-generation all-solid-state-batteries (ASSB) are expected to play a key role in the transition from fossil fuels towards renewable energy since they enable safe and high-capacity energy storage and do not rely on volatile and flammable liquid electrolytes which are used in traditional batteries.  The main challenge in the development of ASSB is the low ionic conductivity of solid-state electrolyte (SSE) at room temperature. Recently, mixing SSEs with some metal oxides, resulting in a composite solid-state electrolyte (CSSE), has gained interest since this approach can enhance ionic conductivity by several orders of magnitude. [1,2,3]. The origin of this effect is not well understood but is likely related to the formation of a highly conductive interphase at the interface between the SSE and metal oxide.

This project will investigate the effects of interfaces on the ionic conductivity of nanocomposite SSEs. First 3D and 2D model CSSE are prepared which allows for the systematic modification of the chemical/physical properties of the SSE and metal oxides. Then the interface will be probed with advanced X-ray spectroscopy such as X-ray Raman scattering [4], resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and other techniques. This will enable us to unravel how the properties of the pristine materials influence their interface reaction, and hence the conductivity and electrochemical properties of the CSSE. Finally ASSBs will be prepared using the most promising CSSEs, and the effects of the additives on battery performance will be investigated sing a variety of in situ techniques.

References

---

[1] J. D. Hehn et al. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2025, 17, 23, 33824–33833

[2] L. M. de Kort et al. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2023, 33, 2209122

[3] S. Das et al. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2016, 163, A2029.

[4] L. M. de Kort Adv. Energy Mater. 2024, 14, 9, 2303381

C.V.

---

July 2025-Present

PhD candidate/postdoc in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, under supervision of Dr. Peter Ngene and Prof. Dr. Frank de Groot

2023 – 2025

MSc Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, the Netherlands

Thesis: ´Investigating the effect of photoexcitation on electronic and structural properties in LaFeO3 using time-resolved X-ray spectroscopy and multiplet calculations´ under the supervision of Masoud Lazemi and Prof. Dr. Frank de Groot in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis Group at Utrecht University.

Internship: ´Application of LDA+DMFT approach to core-level spectroscopy´ under the supervision of Dr. Atsushi Hariki in the Quantum Mechanics Research Group at Osaka Metropolitan University.

Internship: ´ The effect of manganese concentration in Cu/In10MnwOx catalysts on CO2 to methanol conversion ´ under the supervision of Kyra van Nieuwkerk and Prof. Dr. Petra de Jongh in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis Group at Utrecht University.

2020 – 2023

BSc Chemistry with Minor in Mathematics, Utrecht University, the Netherlands

Thesis: ´Development and application of machine learning potentials for solid-state battery materials´ under the supervision of Dr. Théophile Tchakoua and Dr. Nong Artrith at the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis Groupat Utrecht University