Characterizing Phenomenon Governing Battery Performance
This project studies battery performance by diagnosing discharge mechanisms in new chemistries and investigating thermal-electrochemical energy interplay.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025 (NRL Postdoc Opportunity)
Funding Amounts: $99,200 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; relocation assistance and health insurance available.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to investigate fundamental phenomena governing battery performance, focusing on discharge mechanisms of emerging chemistries and thermal-electrochemical energy interplay.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents holding a doctoral degree; requires contacting the research adviser prior to application.
Description
This postdoctoral research opportunity at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC, supports fundamental studies on battery performance across various technical readiness levels. The research focuses on two main areas:
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Diagnosing complex discharge mechanisms in emerging battery chemistries such as ambient sodium-sulfur (Na-S) and anode-free lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. This involves using advanced characterization techniques including in-situ optical microscopy, in-situ spectroscopy, in-operando Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS), and ex-situ micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
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Investigating the interplay between thermal and electrochemical energy during battery charging and discharging, which produces heat influenced by ambient environmental conditions. The project includes building custom instrumented pouch cells and employing novel isothermal battery calorimetry and accelerating rate calorimetry measurements.
The research aims to provide new insights into battery degradation modes, discharge mechanisms, and thermal effects, contributing to the development of more efficient and durable energy storage technologies.
