Research journey.

01 — Problem Statement

Conventional liquid electrolytes present challenges in terms of safety, interfacial stability and compatibility with high-energy electrode materials. Polymer-based electrolytes offer an alternative, but achieving high ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability and effective electrode–electrolyte contact remains challenging.

02 — Research Approach & Progress

Developed an external-initiator-free, in-situ polymerisable vinyl ether-based polymer electrolyte, achieving an ionic conductivity of 3 mS cm⁻¹ and oxidative stability up to 4.6 V. Currently advancing a high-silicon lithium-ion battery platform incorporating 70 wt% silicon anodes, with initial Coulombic efficiency exceeding 85%. Investigating electrolyte–electrode interfacial behaviour and applicability across lithium-ion, sodium-ion and solid-state battery architectures. Preparing a provisional patent application for the electrolyte technology.

03 — Techniques & Tools

01 — Problem Statement

Non-uniform lithium deposition and dendrite formation remain major challenges in lithium-metal batteries, particularly under high-current-density operation. Understanding how mechanical compliance and ion transport influence lithium deposition is essential for developing stable lithium-metal battery architectures.

02 — Research Approach & Progress

Led the major experimental work and manuscript revision of a research article submitted to Advanced Energy Materials on a compliance-driven mechanism for lithium dendrite suppression. Designed and conducted additional electrochemical experiments to address reviewer comments and investigate lithium deposition at high current densities. Currently analysing electrochemical performance and lithium-deposition morphology, preparing revised figures and contributing to manuscript resubmission.

03 — Techniques & Tools

01 — Problem Statement

Understanding electrode–electrolyte interfacial reactions requires characterisation techniques capable of monitoring dynamic chemical changes during electrochemical operation. Conventional Raman spectroscopy often suffers from insufficient sensitivity for detecting interfacial species and transient reaction intermediates.

02 — Research Approach & Progress

Developing a SHINERS-assisted operando Raman spectroelectrochemical platform using the EL-CELL Opto-STD cell for real-time investigation of electrode–electrolyte interfaces in lithium- and sodium-based batteries. Synthesising shell-isolated Au@SiO₂ nanoparticles to enhance Raman sensitivity while preserving the electrochemical environment. Correlating operando Raman measurements with electrochemical responses to investigate electrolyte decomposition and solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) evolution.

03 — Techniques & Tools

01 — Problem Statement

External electromagnetic fields can perturb electrochemical systems and influence measured electrochemical responses. Understanding these interactions is important for distinguishing genuine electrochemical effects from field-induced measurement artefacts.

02 — Research Approach & Progress

Investigated electromagnetic-field-induced effects in electrochemical systems using contactless experimental configurations and chronoamperometry. Designed experiments to evaluate electrochemical perturbations under electromagnetic-field exposure and correlated transient electrochemical responses with field application.

03 — Techniques & Tools

01 — Problem Statement

Engineering optical structures with controllable multi-wavelength reflection requires precise control over the periodic structure and optical properties of porous silicon. Understanding the relationship between structural parameters and reflectance is essential for designing tunable photonic materials.

02 — Research Approach & Progress

Investigated porous silicon Bragg reflectors through Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) simulations in MATLAB to engineer multi-wavelength reflectance. Fabricated porous silicon photonic structures using silver nanoparticle-assisted electrochemical etching and characterised their structural and surface properties. Contributed to a peer-reviewed publication on tuning the multi-wavelength reflection properties of porous silicon Bragg reflectors.

03 — Techniques & Tools

01 — Problem Statement

Externally applied high-frequency electromagnetic fields can influence electrochemical measurements, making it difficult to distinguish genuine changes in electrode reactions from measurement artefacts arising from field–electrode interactions, particularly reference electrode instability.

02 — Research Approach & Progress

Investigated the influence of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on electrochemical measurements using custom-designed experimental platforms. Fabricated Ni–Co layered double hydroxide electrocatalysts and evaluated their hydrogen and oxygen evolution activity. Demonstrated that reference electrode polarisation was the primary source of field-induced measurement artefacts, highlighting the importance of reference electrode stability in electrochemical experiments under external fields.

03 — Techniques & Tools

01 — Problem Statement

Achieving controlled atomic dispersion and stable active sites in electrocatalysts remains challenging because catalyst nucleation, metal–support interactions and deposition conditions strongly influence the resulting material structure and catalytic behaviour.

02 — Research Approach & Progress

Developed substrate-heating-assisted magnetron sputtering strategies for platinum-based electrocatalyst fabrication. Investigated the influence of substrate temperature on metal nucleation, atomic dispersion and catalyst formation. Optimised sputtering and deposition parameters to improve catalyst formation and reproducibility, with structural and electrochemical characterisation of the resulting materials.

03 — Techniques & Tools

01 — Problem Statement

Detecting short-lived electrochemical intermediates requires highly sensitive spectroscopic platforms capable of enhancing Raman signals while maintaining compatibility with electrochemical environments. Conventional SERS configurations can impose limitations on optical accessibility and in-situ measurements.

02 — Research Approach & Progress

Designed and optimised an evanescent-wave-based plasmonic substrate for in-situ Raman measurements. Performed electromagnetic simulations to investigate substrate geometry, resonance conditions and evanescent-field confinement. Developed a substrate architecture with an acceptance angle below 10°. Prepared a first-author manuscript on the geometric analysis and optimisation of the substrate.

03 — Techniques & Tools