Project Info
Scalable Manufacturing of Metal Sulfide Nanomaterials
Colin Wolden
cwolden@mines.edu
Anhydrous metal sulfides (Li2S, Na2S, etc.) are the key components in superionic conducting electrolytes that are at the core of emerging all solid-state battery (ASSB) technologies. They are currently exorbitantly expensive and rely on energy intensive carbothermal reduction processes that emit substantial CO2. We are developing a innovative approach described as cascaded metathesis that we believe can be a cost-effective, scalable manufacturing approach that will de-carbonize the production of these nanomaterials. Batteries are a key component of expanding the deployment of renewable electricity.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Make solar energy economical
http://inside.mines.edu/fs_home/cwolden/Wolden_Webpages/Projects/Battery_index.html
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1149/1945-7111/ab6e3f
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsaem.9b00032
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.iecr.8b01600
Primary Contacts:
Myself and my graduate students Will Smith and Saeed Vaselabadi
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Good standing in chemical engineering or chemiustry, completion of organic chemistry laboratory.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
5
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
The student will learn innovation techniques for material synthesis and purification, inclusing the used of gloveboxes to handle air sensitive materials. In addition the studnet will learn important characterization techniques sucg as FTIR, Raman, XRD, etc.
MENTORING PLAN
The student would be mentored and work with two PhD students and would participate in weekly group meeting to discuss progress.
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Sophomore
Junior