Next generation active materials for Li-ion batteries

The working potential of the cell is affected by the position of the bonding and antibonding orbitals of the M-O bond. By exchanging the oxygen atoms by another element or group of elements the working potential can be increased. Polyanionic cathode materials, which contain e.g. -SiO4, -VO4, or -PO4 groups, can boast the working potential above 5V vs. Li+/Li, and are as such ideal candidates for the next generation of active materials for Li-ion cathodes.  

For this research topic, you will synthesize and characterize next generation battery cathode materials using a plethora of deposition (PVD, CVD, and solution based deposition techniques) and characterization techniques (ERD, RBS, SEM,...). You will work in the fast-growing Energy Storage and Conversion Team at imec, and will build on years of experience in Li-ion batteries.