Chibueze Amanchukwu
Year Awarded: 2017
Research Lab: Zhenan Bao
Current Position:
Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago
Bio:
Chibueze Amanchukwu obtained his B.S. from Texas A&M University and Ph.D. from MIT, all in chemical engineering. During his Ph.D. work under the supervision of Paula Hammond, he developed polymeric electrolytes and electrodes, and provided mechanistic insights on polymer stability for lithium-air battery use, a battery with an order of magnitude higher energy density than current lithium-ion batteries.
Materials Design for Novel Silicon and Lithium Metal-Based Batteries
Climate change may be the biggest challenge facing mankind. The rise of atmospheric greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) has contributed to a warming climate, with over 60 percent of the U.S. CO2 emissions stemming from the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation and transportation. Therefore, it is vital to move from generating electricity by burning coal and gas to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, and from conventional gasoline-powered cars to electric vehicles. For these transitions to be possible, we must have advancements that will make batteries better and more affordable. Increased energy storage will allow renewable energy to be stored and available for use when needed, even if the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing. Additionally, improved batteries will provide electric vehicles with longer driving ranges, which will accelerate the transition to cleaner transportation systems. The goal of Chibueze Amanchukwu’s research will be to explore the development of batteries capable of two times the energy storage capacity of current lithium-ion batteries. Amanchukwu will focus on designing new materials for silicon and lithium metal-based batteries, and understanding the material changes that occur during the battery cycling (charging and discharging). The knowledge gained through this research can then guide new materials design, and bring these novel batteries closer to commercialization.
Publications:
Understanding Lithium-Ion Dynamics in Single-Ion and Salt-in-Polymer Perfluoropolyethers and Polyethyleneglycol Electrolytes Using Solid-State NMR Macromolecules 2023, 56, 10, 3650–3659 April 28, 2023
Ion Conducting Polymer Interfaces for Lithium Metal Anodes: Impact on the Electrodeposition Kinetics Advanced Energy Materials July 28, 2023
Zhiao Yu, Hansen Wang, Xian Kong, William Huang, Yuchi Tsao, David G. Mackanic, Kecheng Wang, Xinchang Wang, Wenxiao Huang, Snehashis Choudhury, Yu Zheng, Chibueze V. Amanchukwu, Samantha T. Hung, Yuting Ma, Eder G. Lomeli, Jian Qin, Yi Cui and Zhenan Bao Molecular design for electrolyte solvents enabling energy-dense and long-cycling lithium metal batteries. Nature Energy, June 2020
Chibueze V. Amanchukwu, Zhiao Yu, Xian Kong, Jian Qin, Yi Cui, and Zhenan Bao. A new class of fluorinated ether electrolytes to decouple ionic conductivity from electrochemical instability.
Chibueze V. Amanchukwu. The Electrolyte Frontier: A Manifesto. Joule. 2020.
Chibueze V. Amanchukwu, Xian Kong, Jian Qin, Yi Cui, and Zhenan Bao. Nonpolar alkanes modify lithium ion solvation for improved lithium deposition and stripping. Adv. Energy Mater. 2019, 9, 1902116
Zhiao Yu, David G. Mackanic, Wesley Michaels, Minah Lee, Allen Pei, Dawei Feng, Qiuhong Zhang, Yuchi Tsao, Chibueze V. Amanchukwu, Xuzhou Yan, Hansen Wang, Shucheng Chen, Kai Liu, Jiheong Kang, Jian Qin, Yi Cui, and Zhenan Bao. A Dynamic, Electrolyte-Blocking, and Single-Ion-Conductive Network for Stable Lithium-Metal Anodes Joule. 2019.