(6ds) All-Solid-State Batteries for Next Generation Electrochemical Energy Storage

Research Interests:

The goal of my research is to realize safe, high-performance, and cost-effective all-solid-state batteries for powering electric vehicles and renewable energy storage through rational design of materials and interface. I aim to build a research group that uses an integrated theoretical and experimental approach to define and address the key challenges of all-solid-state batteries towards a robust energy storage technology. Specifically, my research interests include, but are not limited to: (i) the underlying mechanisms for high interfacial resistances between electrodes and electrolyte and lithium dendrite formation; (ii) the design principles of electrode and electrolyte materials as well as their interfaces; (iii) advanced techniques for large-scale fabrication and device integration.

During my Ph.D. at University of Maryland, I initiated all-solid-state battery project in Prof. Chunsheng Wang’s lab. As one of the main findings of my Ph.D. work, I demonstrate the electrochemical stability windows of solid electrolytes are overestimated from the conventional measurement, and the decompositions of solid electrolytes occur and cannot be ignored when developing all-solid-state batteries. My efforts have led to several papers, patents and proposals funded by Department of Energy, Department of Defense and National Science Foundation. I have also had the opportunity to work with a number of world-famous experts in battery field from universities, national labs, and industry. I will leverage my experience and established collaborations in my future research.

Successful Proposals:

(1) National Science Foundation (2018-2021, $340K, Portable)

(2) Army Research Office (2014-2018, $450K)

Selected Awards:

(1) Battery Division Student Research Award, Electrochemical Society, 2018

(2) Graduate Student Gold Award, Materials Research Society, 2017

Teaching Interests:

I am interested in teaching Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Transport Phenomena, and Process Design at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Based on my education and research background, I would also like to develop a new course named “Energy Materials Chemistry”, which will cover the material and chemical fundamentals underlying the disciplines of sustainability and energy.

Teaching Experience:

I was serving as a teaching assistant (TA) on two undergraduate courses: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Thermodynamics (CHBE 301) and Process Engineering Economics and Design (CHBE 446). Part of my duties is to lead 1 hour discussion every week. The most important thing I learned from teaching is the gap between knowing and teaching out. Through the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, I have mentored three undergraduate students to do battery research in our lab. One of my mentees defended his research in the Engineering Honors Program at University of Maryland. In addition, I have also been assisting my advisor to mentor our Chem-E Car team for the regional and national competitions since 2014.

I was awarded “TA of the Year” from our department for my teaching efforts. I am also a recipient of the University of Maryland All S.T.A.R. Fellowship that honors graduate students who are both outstanding scholars and outstanding teaching assistants. My teaching experience also enabled me to join the prestigious Future Faculty Program, a three to five semester long program that aims to improve the students’ professional skills (research, teaching/mentoring, service, networking, ethics etc.) to obtain and succeed in a university faculty position.

Selected Publications:

1. F. Han, A. S. Westover, J. Yue, X. Fan, F. Wang, M. Chi, D. N. Leonard, N. J. Dudney, H. Wang, C. Wang, Origin of Lithium Dendrite Formation within Solid Electrolytes. Nature Energy, Under Review.
2. F. Han^†, J. Yue^†, C. Chen, N. Zhao, X. Fan, Z. Ma, T. Gao, F. Wang, X. Guo, C. Wang, Interphase Engineering Enabled All-Ceramic Lithium Battery. Joule, 2 (2018) 497.
3. F. Han^†, J. Yue^†, X. Zhu, C. Wang, Suppressing Li Dendrite Formation in Li₂S-P₂S₅ Solid Electrolyte by LiI Incorporation. Advanced Energy Materials, 8 (2018) 1703644.
4. F. Han, J. Yue, X. Fan, T. Gao, C. Luo, Z. Ma, L. Suo, C. Wang, High-Performance All-Solid-State Lithium–Sulfur Battery Enabled by a Mixed-Conductive Li₂S Nanocomposite. Nano Letters, 16 (2016) 4521.
5. F. Han^†, Y. Zhu^†, X. He, Y. Mo, C. Wang, Electrochemical Stability of Li₁₀GeP₂S₁₂ and Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ Solid Electrolytes, Advanced Energy Materials, 6 (2016) 1501590.
6. F. Han, T. Gao, Y. Zhu, K. J. Gaskell, C. Wang, A Battery Made from a Single Material, Advanced Materials, 27 (2015) 3473.
7. F. Han, Y. Bai, R. Liu, B. Yao, Y. Qi, N. Lun, J. Zhang, Template-Free Synthesis of Interconnected Hollow Carbon Nanospheres for High-Performance Anode Material in Lithium-Ion Batteries, Advanced Energy Materials, 1 (2011) 798.
8. F. Han, B. Yao, Y. Bai, Preparation of Carbon Nano-Onions and Their Application as Anode Materials for Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 115 (2011) 8923.
9. J. Yue^†, F. Han^†, X. Fan, X. Zhu, Z. Ma, J. Yang, C. Wang, High-Performance All-Inorganic Solid-State Sodium-Sulfur Battery, ACS Nano, 11 (2017) 4885.