Thesis title: Advancing Solid-State Batteries: Visualizing Dendrite Growth and Buried Charge Flow with Quantum Sensing
I started my PhD in August 2024 after completing my M.Sc. in Space Engineering at RWTH Aachen.
My PhD project focuses on the development of a novel technique to visualize dendrite growth and charge flow within solid-state batteries (SSBs) at the nanoscale. A key degradation mechanism in SSBs is the formation of so-called dendrites, which currently limit the charging speed and use of anodes with high energy density. Dendrites form as the active ions (e.g. Li+) recombine with electrons to form lithium metal, which may propagate into the electrolyte to electrically bridge the electrodes and short-circuit the battery. Despite the large commercial and scientific interest, there is still no consensus on how electrons and ions move in SSBs to form dendrites.
In this project, I aim to use quantum mechanical sensors to detect how electrons and ions move on the nanoscale in batteries. This approach will enable direct visualization of current distributions and real-time tracking of dendrite formation within SSBs. The insights gained could lead to new strategies to mitigate dendrite formation, contributing to safer, more energy-dense, and longer-lasting SSBs.
Start date: 01-08-2024
Finish date: 31-07-2027
PhD supervisors: Dennis Christensen, Mohamad Khoshkalam and Jennifer Rupp