Multivalent Battery Chemistry

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Multivalent-ion batteries (e.g., Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Al³⁺) offer the theoretical advantage of higher volumetric capacity and lower dendrite risk, but face serious challenges in interfacial and transport behavior. EIS Lab is exploring the complex solvation structures, desolvation energetics, and sluggish solid-state diffusion that typically hinder multivalent ion mobility in electrode hosts. We combine electrochemical analysis, spectroscopy, and DFT-based insights (through collaborators) to design better cathode architectures and electrolyte systems that can accommodate and reversibly host multivalent ions. Our work is pushing the frontiers of ionic conductivity optimization, electrode passivation control, and novel interphase design tailored to these challenging chemistries.