Date: January 17, 2020

Time: 12:30pm - -

Location: Maeder Hall auditorium

Dr. Kelsey Hatzell
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Vanderbilt University

Insights into the chemo-mechanics of solid|solid interfaces for next generation all solid state batteries

Transportation accounts for 23% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and electrification is a pathway toward ameliorating these growing challenges. All solid state batteries could potentially address the safety and driving range requirements necessary for widespread adoption of electric vehicles. However, the power densities of all-solid state batteries are limited because of ineffective ion transport at solid|solid interfaces. New insight into the governing physics that occur at intrinsic and extrinsic interfaces are critical for developing engineering strategies for the next generation of energy dense batteries. However, buried solid|solid interfaces are notoriously difficult to observe with traditional bench-top and lab-scale experiments. In this talk I discuss opportunities for tracking phenomena and mechanisms in all solid state batteries in-situ using advanced synchrotron techniques. Synchrotron techniques that combine reciprocal and real space techniques are capable of tracking multi-scale structural phenomena from the nano- to meso-scale. This talk will discuss the role microstructure plays on transport and interfacial properties that govern adhesion. Quantification of salient descriptors of structure in solid state batteries is critical for understanding the mechanochemical nature of all solid state batteries.

Dr. Hatzell earned her Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering at Drexel University, her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and her B.S./B.A. in Engineering/Economics from Swarthmore College.

Hatzell’s research group works on multifunctional coatings and understanding phenomena at solid|liquid and solid|solid interfaces. The Inks and Interfaces group works on an array of different applications related to solid state batteries, electrochemical fuel production, printing, water desalination, and separations application. She is interested in understanding far-from equilibrium material systems and utilizes a suite of x-ray and neutron techniques to understand these systems.

Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon in the auditorium lobby of Maeder Hall.