1. Designing High-power and High-energy Storage
Combining the merits of high charge capacities in batteries and high power capacitors into a single high-energy, high-power device represents a major scientific and technological challenge. From a design perspective, the difficulty lies in designing electrode materials with a high density of redox sites and excellent electron and ion conduction pathways. Work in Banda Lab investigated emerging classes of 2D materials to solve these challenges.
2. Exploring and Imparting Intercalation via Material Design
Intercalation of ions into 2D materials serves as the core mechanism that supports charge storage in batteries. However, current batteries face challenges related to long charging times and the use of critical metals that require development of new and sustainable 2D materials. Work in Banda lab explores design and synthesis of sustainable materials for rapid intercalation of ions.
3. Controlling Interfaces with Ions
Electric double layers formed at the electrochemical interfaces serve as the fundamental feature that controls wide range of processes including in energy storage and electrocatalysis. Electrolytic ions, which are the primary components of a double layer, are largely treated as non-interacting species. Work in Banda lab aims to control interfaces with novel, interacting ions.
Banda Lab at UTEP 