The Advanced Energy Storage Technology Lab
What We Do
Since the discovery of electricity, we have sought effective methods to store that energy for use on demand. Over the last century, the energy storage industry has continued to evolve and adapt to changing energy requirements and advances in technology.
Energy storage systems provide a wide array of technological approaches to managing our power supply in order to create a more resilient energy infrastructure and bring cost savings to utilities and consumers.
Prof. Dr. Tang Wei (唐伟)
Principle Investigator
Working Experience
2018-09 Professor, School of chemical engineering and technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University
2016-08 to 2018-08 Scientist, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR
Education Experience
2012-08 to 2016-07 National University of Singapore, PHD
2009-09-2012-07 Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology & Fudan University, Master
2005-09 to 2009-07 Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Bachelor
Research
Unlocking the Mysteries of Science
Aqueous Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
It has been well realized that an aqueous electrolyte is one of the safest choices for rechargeable batteries. In addition, the ionic conductivity of aqueous electrolytes is higher than those of nonaqueous and solid electrolytes, which is one prerequisite for a fast redox reaction, i.e., fast charge and discharge processes. In the case of aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries (ARLBs), the first was invented in 1994. Only until recently has great progress been achieved. The main reasons are ascribed to the nanostructuring and surface coating on their electrode materials. The reversible capacities of their electrode materials are markedly increased, which can be similar to those achieved in organic electrolytes. Their cycling life is excellent. For example, in the case of LiMn2O4, its capacity retention can be 93% after 10 000 full cycles. In addition, their electrode materials and the ARLBs can be charged at a super fast rate, which is comparable with gasoline filling for car engines. These progresses show that ARLBs provide another promising choice as a power source for smart grids and hybrid electric vehicles.
Lithium Sulfur Batteries
we have shown that by leveraging on the unique flexibility and strong inter-layer van der Waals interaction of solution-exfoliated MoS2 flakes, it is possible to encapsulate sulfur particles and study detailed lithiation/delithiation dynamics using in-situ TEM. We observe that the diffusivities of lithium ion in the encapsulated sulfur particles are comparable to that of the lithium metal phosphate electrode materials. The hermetical encapsulation of sulfur particles by MoS2 cages is effective in preventing soluble lithium polysulfides from dissolution in the electrolyte, resulting in a highly reversible specific capacity up to 1660 mAh g-1 at 0.1C. Moreover, owing to the internal void spaces between MoS2 wrinkles and sulfur cores, and the hollow space within the sulfur spheres, the structural integrity of the electrode can be maintained despite the significant volumetric change during cycling, resulting in a stable electrode-electrolyte interface and thus an improved long-term cycling performance around 1000 cycles.
Modification of lithium metals
Due to the chemical and spatial variations, the distribution of surface formation energy and diffusion barrier on lithium metal is highly non-uniform, leading to uneven deposition/dissolution of lithium on the pristine lithium surface. It is therefore critical to design and tailor the lithium interfaces with chemical and spatial uniformity. We demonstrated that restructuring the lithium surface into LixSi layers with a graded stoichiometry significantly improves the uniformity of lithium dissolution and deposition compared to bare lithium. The graded variation in stoichiometry prevents an abrupt electrochemical potential drop between electrolyte and electrode, thereby eliminating regions of elevated local current density. This allows a more homogeneous utilization of lithium and a better rate capability compared with pristine lithium foil. From a safety viewpoint, dendritic growth on lithium foil can be effectively suppressed, as confirmed by in-situ optical microscopy and electronic microscopy studies, thus allowing the lithium anode to enjoy a long cycling life.
Carbon-alloy anodes and in-situ NMR
We have synthesized Ge NRs encapsulated by bamboo type multiwall CNTs. Ge@CNT delivers high capacity, superior rate capability (discharge in seconds) and good cycle stability. The unique structure of the CNT scaffold mechanically protects the Ge NRs from drastic volume swing during (de)lithiation processes and provides an effective model for multi-probe studies (TEM, XRD and in-situ NMR). Structural studies using TEM using coin cell configuration, X-ray diffraction and in-situ 7Li NMR studies reveal that the reversibility of Li (de)lithiation in Ge@CNT during cycling is mediated by co-existing amorphous and crystalline phases. The high capacity observed may be related to electrically driven, metastable, over-lithiated Li-Ge alloy, whose existence and reversibility depends on robust electrical interfaces afforded by the carbon walls encapsulating the Ge. The design and synthesis of such core-shell structure affords a generic strategy for protecting structurally unstable alloy phases in high energy and power density LIBs.
In-situ Probes
Most of the battery systems are operated in a closed environment, which is regarded as a black box. Researchers need to open it and check the state of the electrodes at different charge/discharge status, or after a given number of cycles. However, the electrochemical reaction is extremely quick and metastable, and the working electrodes are highly sensitive to the air, thus the standard ex-situ characterization results obtained by opening the box might not be accurate, which may limit the further improvement of the electrochemical performance based on these results.
In-situ characterization techniques can track the electrochemical reaction processes while the system is functioning, and eliminate the influence and uncertainty rising from the post-treatment processes of the electrode materials.
In my previous works, various in-situ Probes, such in-situ TEM, XAS, NMR, XRD, OM, have been developed to investigate the electrochemical process happened in batteries.
Published Work
The Fruits of Our Labor
(1) W. Tang+, Z. Chen+, B. Tian+, H. Lee, X. Zhao, X. Fan, Y. Fan, K. Leng, C. Peng, M. Kim, M. Li, M. Lin, J. Su, J. Chen, H. Jeong, X. Yin, Q. Zhang, W. Zhou, K. Loh, G. Zheng, In Situ Observation and Electrochemical Study of Encapsulated Sulfur Nanoparticles by MoS2 Flakes, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139, 10133; (《C&EN》亮点报道) (影响因子: 13.858)
(2) W. Tang, Y. Liu, C. Peng, M.Y. Hu, X. Deng, M. Lin, J.Z. Hu, K.P. Loh, Probing Lithium Germanide Phase Evolution and Structural Change in a Germanium-in-Carbon Nanotube Energy Storage System, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015, 137, 2600; (影响因子: 13.858)
(3) W. Tang, X. Yin, S. Kang, Z. Chen, B. Tian, S. Teo, X.Wang, X. Chi, K. P. Loh,* H. Lee* and G. W. Zheng*, Adv. Mater.,DOI: 10.1002/adma.201802397. (影响因子: 19.791)
(4) W.Tang, X. Yin, Z. Chen, W. Fu, K. Loh, G. Zheng, Chemically polished lithium metal anode for high energy lithium metal batteries, Energy Storage Mater., 2018, 14,289.
(5) W. Tang, Y. Y. Hou, F. Wang, L. L. Liu, Y. P. Wu, K. Zhu, LiMn2O4 Nanotube as Cathode Material of Second-Level Charge Capability for Aqueous Rechargeable Batteries, Nano Lett., 2013,13, 2036; (中国百篇最具影响力国际论文, ESI高引论文) (影响因子: 12.712)
(6) W. Tang, Y. Zhu, Y. Hou, L. Liu, Y. Wu, K.P. Loh, H. Zhang, K. Zhu, Aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries as an energy storage system of superfast charging, Energy Environ. Sci., 2013, 6, 2093; (影响因子: 29.518, ESI高引论文)
(7) W. Tang, L.L. Liu, S. Tian, Y.S. Zhu, Y.P. Wu, K. Zhu, An aqueous rechargeable lithium battery of excellent rate capability based on nanocomposite of MoO3 coating with PPy and LiMn2O4, Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 6909; (影响因子: 29.518)
(8) G. Zheng*, W. Tang, Just a spoonful of LiPF6, Nat. Eenrgy, 2017,2,17029, (*corresponding author, News & views,《自然》子刊);
(9) W. Tang+, X. Song+, Y. Du+, C. Peng, M. Lin, S. Xi, B. Tian, J. Zheng, Y. Wu, F.Pan, K. P. Loh, High-performance NaFePO4 formed by Aqueous Ion- exchange and its mechanism for advanced Sodium Ion Batteries, J. Mat. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 4882; (影响因子: 8.262, JMCA热点文章)
(10) B. Tian, W. Tang (共同一作), K. Leng, Z. Chen, S. Tan, C. Peng, G. Ning, W. Fu, C. Su, G. Zheng, K. P. Loh*, Phase Transformations in TiS2 during K Intercalation, ACS Energy Lett., 2017, 2, 1835;
(11) W. Tang+, B. Goh+, M. Y. Hu, C. Wan, B. Tian, X. Deng, C. Peng, M. Lin, J. Z. Hu, and K. P. Loh, In-situ Raman and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of Trapped Lithium in the Solid Electrolyte Interface of Reduced Graphene Oxide, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2016, 120, 2600 (影响因子: 4.536)
(12) W. Tang, C.X. Peng, C.T. Nai, J. Su, Y.P. Liu, M.V. Reddy, M. Lin, K.P. Loh, Ultrahigh Capacity Due to Multi-Electron Conversion Reaction in Reduced Graphene Oxide-Wrapped MoO2 Porous Nanobelts, Small, 2015, 11, 2446; (影响因子: 8.643)
(13) W. Tang, X.W. Gao, Y.S. Zhu, Y.B. Yue, Y. Shi, Y.P. Wu, K. Zhu, A hybrid of V2O5 nanowires and MWCNTs coated with polypyrrole as an anode material for aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries with excellent cycling performance, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 20143. (影响因子: 8.867)
(14) W. Tang,Y.Y. Hou, X.J. Wang, Y. Bai, Y.S. Zhu, H. Sun, Y.B. Yue, Y.P. Wu, K. Zhu, R. Holze , A hybrid of MnO2 nanowires and MWCNTs as cathode of excellent rate capability for supercapacitors, J. Power Sources, 2012, 197, 330; (ESI高引论文,影响因子: 6.395)
(15) W. Tang, X.J. Wang, Y.Y. Hou, L.L. Li, H. Sun, Y.S. Zhu, Y. Bai, K. Zhu, Y.P. Wu, T. van Ree, Nano LiMn2O4 as cathode material of high rate capability for lithium ion batteries, J. Power Sources, 2012, 198, 308. (ESI高引论文, 影响因子: 6.395)
(16) W. Tang, S. Tian, L.L. Liu, L. Li, H.P. Zhang , Y.B. Yue, Y. Bai, Y.P. Wu, K. Zhu, Nanochain LiMn2O4 as ultra-fast cathode material for aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries, Electrochem. Commun., 2011, 13, 205; (影响因子: 4.396)
(17) W. Tang, L.L Liu, S. Tian, L. Li, Y.B. Yue, Y.P. Wu, K.Zhu, Aqueous supercapacitors of high energy density based on MoO3 nanoplates as anode materials, Chem. Commun., 2011, 41,10058. (影响因子: 6.319)
(18) W. Tang, L.L. Liu, S. Tian, L. Li, L.L. Li, Y.B. Yue, Y. Bai, Y.P. Wu, K. Zhu, R. Holze , LiMn2O4 nanorods as a super-fast cathode material for aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries, Electrochem. Commun.,2011,13, 1159; (影响因子: 4.396)
(19) W. Tang, L.L. Liu, S. Tian,L. Li, Y.B. Yue, Y.P. Wu, S.Y. Guan, K. Zhu, Nano-LiCoO2 as cathode material of large capacity and high rate capability for aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries, Electrochem. Commun., 2010, 12, 1524; (影响因子:4.396)
(20) X. Yin, J. Jennings, W. Tang, T. Huang, C. Tang, H. Gong, G. Zheng, Large-Scale Color-Changing Thin Film Energy Storage Device with High Optical Contrast and Energy Storage Capacity, ACS Appl. Energy Mater.,2018, DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.8b00120.
(21) B.Tian, W. Tang, C. Su, Y. Li, Reticular V2O5•0.6H2O Xerogel as Cathode for Rechargeable Potassium Ion Batteries, ACS Appl. Mater. Inter., 2017, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b15407;(影响因子:7.504)
(22) C. Peng, G. Ning, J.Su, G. Zhong, W. Tang, B. Tian, C. Su, D. Yu, L. Zu, J. Yang, M. Ng, Y. Hu, Y. Yang, M. Armand, K. P. Loh, Reversible multi-electron redox chemistry of π-conjugated N-containing heteroaromatic molecule-based organic cathodes, Nat. Energy, 2017, 2,17074. (《自然》子刊)
(23) G. Ning, Z. Chen, Q. Gao, W. Tang, Z. Chen, C. Liu, B. Tian, X. Li, K. P. Loh, Salicylideneanilines-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks as Chemoselective Molecular Sieves, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139, 8897; (影响因子: 13.858)
(24) Z. Chen, K. Leng, X. Zhao, S. Malkhandi, W. Tang, B. Tian, L. Zheng, B.Yeo. K.P. Loh, Interface Confined Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Zero Valent Metal-Intercalated Molybdenum Disulfide, Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 14548; (影响因子: 12.124,《自然》子刊)
(25) B. Tian, Z. Ding, G. Ning, W. Tang, C. Peng, B.Liu, J. Su, C. Su, K. P. Loh, Amino group enhanced phenazine derivatives as electrode materials for lithium storage,Chem. Commun., 2017,53, 2914; (影响因子: 6.319)
(26) J. Chen, X.Zhao, S. Tan, H. Xu, B. Wu, B. Liu, D. Fu, W. Fu, D. Geng, Y. Liu, W. Liu, W. Tang, L. Li, W. Zhou, T. Sum, K.P. Loh, Chemical Vapor Deposition of Large-Size Monolayer MoSe2 Crystals on Molten Glass ,J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017,139 (3),1073; (影响因子: 13.858)
(27) B. Tian, G. Ning, Q. Gao,L. Tan, W. Tang, Z. Chen, C. Su, K. P. Loh, K. P., Crystal Engineering of Naphthalenediimide-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks: Structure-Dependent Lithium Storage, ACS Appl. Mater. Inter., 2016, 8, 31067; (影响因子: 7.504)
(28) J. Chen, W. Zhou, W. Tang, B. Tian, X. Zhao, H. Xu, Y. Liu, D. Geng, S. Tan, W. Fu, K.P. Loh, Lateral Epitaxy of Atomically Sharp WSe2/WS2 Heterojunctions on Silicon Dioxide Substrates, Chem. Mat., 2016, 28 (20),7194; (影响因子: 9.466)
(29) K. Leng, Z. Chen, X. Zhao, W. Tang, B. Tian, C. Nai, W. Zhou, K.P. Loh, Phase Restructuring in Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Highly Stable Energy Storage, ACS Nano, 2016,10, 9208; (影响因子: 13.942)
(30) C. Su, R. Tandiana, B. Tian, A. Sengupta, W.Tang, J. Su, and K. P. Loh, Visible-Light Photocatalysis of Aerobic Oxidation Reactions Using Carbazolic Conjugated Microporous Polymers, ACS Catal., 2016, 6, 3594. (影响因子: 10.614)
(31) J. Chen, W. Tang, B. Tian, B. Liu, X. Zhao, Y. Liu, T. Ren, W. Liu, D. Geng, H. Y. Jeong, H. S. Shin, W. Zhou, K. P. Loh, Chemical Vapor Deposition of High-Quality Large-Sized MoS2 Crystals on Silicon Dioxide Substrates, Adv. Sci., 2016,3,1500033; (影响因子:9.034)
(32) C. Su, R. Tandiana, J. Balapanuru, W. Tang, K. Pareek, C.T. Nai, T. Hayashi, K.P. Loh, Tandem Catalysis of Amines Using Porous Graphene Oxide, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 685; (影响因子: 13.858)
(33) J. Chen, B. Liu, Y. Liu, W. Tang, C. Nai, L. Li, J. Zheng, L. Gao, Y. Zheng, H. Shin, H. Jeong, K.P. Loh, Chemical Vapor Deposition of Large-sized Hexagonal wse2 Crystals on Dielectric Substrates, Adv. Mat. 2015, 27, 6722. (影响因子: 19.791)
(34) B. Peng, G. Yu, Y. Zhao, Q. Xu, G. Xing, X. Liu, D.Fu, B. Liu, J. Tan, W. Tang, H. Lu, J. Xie, L. Deng, T. Sum, K. P. Loh, Achieving Ultrafast Hole Transfer at the Monolayer MoS2 and CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Interface by Defect Engineering, ACS Nano, 2016, 10, 6383. (影响因子: 13.942)
(35) B. Tian, G. Ning, W. Tang,C. Peng, D. Yu, Z. Chen,Y. Xiao, C. Su, K. P. Loh, Polyquinon- eimines for lithium storage: more than the sum of its parts, Mater. Horiz. 2016,3, 429.( 影响因子: 10.706)
(36) L.L. Liu, S. Tian, Y.S. Zhu, W. Tang, L.L. Li, Y.P. Wu, Nanoporous Carbon as Anode Material of High Rate Capability for Lithium Ion Batteries, J. Chin. Chem. Soc.-TAIP, 2012, 59, 1216;
(37) Y.P. Wu, W. Tang, L.L. Liu, Y.Y. Hou, X.J. Wang, H. Sun, Nanostructured electrode materials with super-fast charge performance for batteries, Abstracts Of Papers Of The American Chemical Society, 2012,243;
(38) L.L. Liu, W. Tang, S. Tian, Y. Shi, Y.P. Wu, G.J. Yang, LiV3O8 Nanomaterial As Anode With Good Cycling Performance For Aqueous Rechargeable Lithium Batteries, Funct. Mater. Lett. 2011, 4, 315; (影响因子:1.234)
(39) W. Tang, S. Tian, L. Li, L. Liu, Y. Shi, K. Zhu, Y.P. Wu, A supercapacitor, Application No: 201110003537.X, applied on 10th January, 2011.(中国专利)
(40) G. Zheng (同等贡献), W. Tang(同等贡献), K.P. Loh(同等贡献), MoS2 encapsulated sulfur particles for high performance lithium sulfur batteries and method of making the same, Singapore Patent Application No. 10201704587U.（新加坡专利）
Totally citation: 1540 H-index: 18
Contact Us
Prof Tang Wei, Doctoral Supervisor
Xi An Jiao Tong Da Xue, Xianning Xi Road, Beilin Qu, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
0065-65011847
