Title: Applications of Synchrotron Radiation in All-Solid-State Batteries

 Speaker: Dr. Weihan Li (Associate Professor / Researcher, Ningbo Eastern University of Technology)

 Invited by: Prof. Jianqiang Hu

 Time: June 5, 2026 (Friday), 9:00–11:00 AM

 Venue: Room 10 of the Shaw Engineering Building, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

 Organizer: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology

 Biography:

 Dr. Weihan Li is a National Young Talent (Overseas), a Founding Associate Professor (Researcher and Ph.D. Supervisor) at Ningbo Eastern University of Technology, and Deputy Director of the Institute of Matter and Energy. He also serves as an Adjunct Ph.D. Supervisor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of Science and Technology of China. His research focuses on the fundamental and applied aspects of solid-state batteries, lithium (sodium) ion batteries, and synchrotron radiation characterization. In recent years, he has published a series of original achievements in novel nitride solid-state electrolytes, all-solid-state battery development, and in situ synchrotron radiation characterization. To date, he has published over 130 SCI papers in journals including Nature and Science, with total citations exceeding 15,000 and an H-index of 70. As first or corresponding author (including co-authorship), he has published more than 30 papers in Nat. Nanotechnol., Sci. Adv., Adv. Mater., Energy Environ. Sci., JACS, and other prestigious journals. He has been selected for the World's Top 2% Scientists list (2023–2025) and received the First Prize of Anhui Provincial Natural Science Award (2023) and the CAS President's Award (2016), among other honors.

 Abstract:

 All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) hold great promise for high safety, high energy density, and wide-temperature-range applications; however, insufficient ionic conductivity of solid-state electrolytes, poor air/electrochemical stability, high interfacial impedance at solid–solid interfaces, and lithium dendrite failure remain critical bottlenecks limiting cycle life and rate capability. This presentation focuses on synchrotron radiation X-ray spectroscopy and diffraction/scattering characterization: utilizing XANES to resolve valence states and coordination environments, EXAFS to probe local atomic structures, and integrating in situ XAS/XRD, pair distribution function (PDF), and grazing-incidence interface-resolved techniques to track cathode reactions, electrolyte–lithium metal interfaces, air stability, and ion transport evolution. Case studies include a self-healing Li₁.₃Fe₁.₂Cl₄ halide cathode, a solid-state solvated high-voltage organic cathode, lithium-stable Li₉N₂Cl₃, and vacancy-enriched β-Li₃N, elucidating local ion migration, interfacial reactions, and vacancy-induced fast-ion transport mechanisms. These insights guide the realization of high ionic conductivity, stable interfaces, and long-life solid-state lithium metal batteries (e.g., β-Li₃N achieving 2.14 mS cm⁻¹ at room temperature and 3,500 cycles at 1.0 C). This talk highlights the advantages of multimodal synchrotron characterization in bridging local structures, interfacial evolution, and device performance, offering a methodological paradigm for ASSB design.

Announced by School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering