Valerio Gulino

Research: Novel hydride-based solid-state electrolytes

Nowadays, battery electrolytes typically consist of lithium salts dissolved in flammable organic solvents. Improved solid electrolytes (SEs) would facilitate the development of several emerging technologies, such as high capacity all solid-state batteries. In fact, owing to a very low reduction potential, Li metal is the most desirable anode for high-power applications, but its use in conventional batteries is hampered by the uneven Li plating that results in dangerous shortcuts. SEs could prevent dendrite growth, hence overcoming the risks associated with flammable organic solvents and increasing the lifetime of the device.¹ Various types of solid-state ionic compounds, including complex hydride, have been shown their capacity to conduct ions.² An essential requirement for a solid-state ion conductor to be used as an electrolyte in a battery is a high ionic conductivity at RT (higher than 10-3 S cm-1).³ Different approaches have been used to increase the conductivity at RT. Substitution of the anion by halides or complex anions can either stabilise high temperature structure or promote the formation of new compounds with improved ionic conductivity at RT. A different approach to increase the ionic conductivity is by mixing the ionic conductor with oxides to form a composite, e.g. by nanoconfinement in suitable scaffolds or by ball milling.
The aim of the project is developed novel hydride-based solid-state electrolytes using both anion substitution and interface engineering approaches. The synthesis will be performed by ball milling or by Nanoconfinement. Subsequently, the electrochemical proprieties (e.g. the electrochemical stability and ionic conductivity) of novel fast ion conductors will be studied using several electrochemical characterization techniques (e.g. Cyclic voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy). Finally, the electrolyte will be implemented in different all-solid-state Li batteries. Different cathode materials could be used to optimize the battery performance.

(1) Goodenough, J. B.; Singh, P. Review—Solid Electrolytes in Rechargeable Electrochemical Cells. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2015, 162 (14), A2387–A2392. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0021514jes.
(2) Matsuo, M.; Orimo, S. Lithium Fast-Ionic Conduction in Complex Hydrides: Review and Prospects. Adv. Energy Mater. 2011, 1 (2), 161–172. https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201000012.
(3) Bachman, J. C.; Muy, S.; Grimaud, A.; Chang, H.-H.; Pour, N.; Lux, S. F.; Paschos, O.; Maglia, F.; Lupart, S.; Lamp, P.; Giordano, L.; Shao-Horn, Y. Inorganic Solid-State Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries: Mechanisms and Properties Governing Ion Conduction. Chem. Rev. 2016, 116 (1), 140–162. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00563.

Publications

See Scopus.

CV

November 2020 – Present
Postdoctoral researcher
Supervised by Prof. Petra de Jongh and Dr. Peter Ngene
Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

October 2017 – October 2020
PhD candidate in “Materials and Chemical Sciences”
Department of Chemistry and Inter-departmental Center Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces (NIS), University of Turin, Italy
Thesis entitled: “LiBH4 as solid-state electrolyte for Li-ion Batteries: Modelling, Synthesis, Characterization” supervised by Prof. Marcello Baricco.

December 2019
Visiting PhD student
Supervised by Radovan Černý
Laboratoire de Cristallographie, DQMP University of Geneva, Switzerland

March 2019 – May 2019
Visiting PhD student
Supervised by Prof. Petra de Jongh and Dr. Peter Ngene
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

May 2018
Visiting PhD student
Supervised by Radovan Černý
Laboratoire de Cristallographie, DQMP University of Geneva, Switzerland

October 2015 – October 2017
MSc Industrial Chemistry
Department of Chemistry and Inter-departmental Center Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces (NIS), University of Turin, Italy
Thesis entitled “Thesis title: “Mixture of lithium borohydride and lithium halide as solid electrolyte for Li-ion batteries” supervised by Prof. Marcello Baricco
Thesis awarded as best thesis of the academic year 2016-2017

October 2012 – October 2015
BSc Chemistry
Department of Chemistry University of Turin, Italy
Thesis entitled “The PLA and its use as Food packaging” supervised by Prof. Pierangiola Bracco

June 1993
Born on the 6th of June in Cuneo, Italy.