Fall ’25 Department Seminars with Dr. Burak Aktekin
Title: Investigation of Side Reactions and Interphase Formation in All-solid-state Batteries
Speaker: Dr. Burak Aktekin
Date: 09/12/2025, Tuesday
Time: 12:30 (Turkiye Time)
Place: Zoom
Zoom Meeting ID: 729 064 5404
Zoom Passcode: 723291
Abstract:
Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) have become a critical component of countless devices we use in our daily life, and they have already started to play a pivotal role in electrification of transport (and grid energy storage). In order to enable a widespread energy transition away from fossil fuels, the development of next-generation battery technologies is crucial. Ideally, electrode materials should have high specific charge capacities, enable high cell voltages and allow fast charge and discharge kinetics. In order to maximize the cell voltage, the cathode (positive electrode) should ideally operate at the highest and the anode (negative electrode) at the lowest possible potential. The most promising negative electrode material would be the lithium metal, since it has a specific charge capacity of 3860 mAh g-1 and operates at the lowest electrode potential possible (i.e., O V vs. Li+/Li). For the lithium metal, all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are quite promising due to their projected safety characteristics (e.g., non-flammable components, mechanical rigidity, very high transference numbers). Unfortunately, most solid electrolytes have a narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) and thus are subject to parasitic side reactions with lithium metal (and also with high voltage cathode active materials). This results in performance degradation over time.
Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) have become a critical component of countless devices we use in our daily life, and they have already started to play a pivotal role in electrification of transport (and grid energy storage). In order to enable a widespread energy transition away from fossil fuels, the development of next-generation battery technologies is crucial. Ideally, electrode materials should have high specific charge capacities, enable high cell voltages and allow fast charge and discharge kinetics. In order to maximize the cell voltage, the cathode (positive electrode) should ideally operate at the highest and the anode (negative electrode) at the lowest possible potential. The most promising negative electrode material would be the lithium metal, since it has a specific charge capacity of 3860 mAh g-1 and operates at the lowest electrode potential possible (i.e., O V vs. Li+/Li). For the lithium metal, all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are quite promising due to their projected safety characteristics (e.g., non-flammable components, mechanical rigidity, very high transference numbers). Unfortunately, most solid electrolytes have a narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) and thus are subject to parasitic side reactions with lithium metal (and also with high voltage cathode active materials). This results in performance degradation over time.
Short Biography of the Speaker:
Burak Aktekin received his BSc (2010) and MSc (2013) in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department in Middle East Technical University. He then joined Department of Chemistry at Uppsala University for his doctoral studies where he worked on the high voltage spinel type positive electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. His research activities covered (post)synthesis modifications of active materials, electrode and cell preparation in different formats, comprehensive electrochemical testing and attendance at various beamtimes at large scale synchrotron and neutron facilities. Having obtained his PhD in late 2019 and following a brief postdoctoral period at Uppsala University, Dr. Aktekin joined J. Janek’s research group at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen. His current research activities focus on understanding interfacial side reactions in all-solid-state batteries using electrochemical methods as well as a range of analytical tools available in-house or at synchrotron facilities.