Award Data

Lithium-ion batteries are promising energy storage devices for hybrid and electric vehicles, providing high specific energy (approximately 150 Wh/kg), energy density (approximately 400 Wh/L), and long cycle life (greater than 15 years). However, these applications require further increases in energy density and improved low-temperature (less than ¿10 degrees C) performance. Silicon-based anod ...

This project will develop inexpensive and environmentally benign LiMnPO4 cathodes for applications to lithium-ion batteries (LIB) used in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. This cathode material is expected to be far safer than Li-ion batteries employing traditional layered LiMO2 (M=Co, Ni) materials. A number of synthetic modifications will be pursued to optimize the LiMnPO4 material for us ...

Biodiesel is a clean-burning, renewable fuel produced from domestic agricultural sources (such as vegetable oils and animal fats) that can be blended with petroleum diesel and used by most compression-ignition (diesel) engines with few or no modifications. However, the availability of suitable agricultural fats and oils for biodiesel feedstock is limited, and is not expected to increase apace wit ...

Advanced SiC-based high-power switches are need for power conversion applications. This project will develop a 10 kV-18 kV class, high voltage, SiC Emitter Turn-off thyristor that maximizes the capability of SiC materials while minimizing the effect of immature material properties, such as poor oxide reliability and low surface mobility. The SiC ETO will result in the best performance in terms o ...

In previous research, a specialty solid-state lighting (SSL) device had been developed. A doped Polymer Light-Emitting Diode (POLED) device structure is used, which enables devices to be printed with low capital equipment and operating costs. Although the devices are efficient, thin, flexible, and robust, additional performance improvements would broaden the range of applications to interior bui ...

A growing number of electronic devices are being implanted in patients to treat a wide range of maladies. While these devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex, they are powered by conventional chemical batteries with limited operating life and power output. These conventional batteries are essentially self-contained electrochemical reactors, and the total power they can produc ...