Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

9-2025

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Physics

Advisor

Sophia Suarez

Committee Members

Steven Greenbaum

Karl Sandeman

Nicolas Giovambattista

Phillip Stallworth

Subject Categories

Condensed Matter Physics

Keywords

Next Gen Battery, Electrolytes

Abstract

The increasing reliance on batteries in commercial products, coupled with the environmental challenges posed by climate change and the limitations of fossil fuel consumption, has created strong financial and environmental incentives to explore innovative energy storage solutions. Renewable energy sources are being actively developed, but their intermittent nature necessitates efficient storage technologies, driving significant research into improving the performance of batteries, fuel cells, and capacitors.

This thesis focuses on the application of advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study and understand novel materials for energy storage applications, with an emphasis on electrolytes for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and all-solid-state batteries. A range of complementary NMR techniques, including pulse field gradient (PFG) diffusion, fast field cycling (FFC) relaxometry, and solid-state NMR, were employed to investigate both structural and dynamic properties of these materials at the molecular level.

The studies presented provide critical insights into the correlations between microscopic properties—such as ionic diffusion, proton transport, and molecular dynamics—and macroscopic behaviors, such as ionic conductivity, dielectric performance, and overall electrochemical stability. Notable investigations include the characterization of ionic liquid electrolytes and ionic liquid-based solid-state electrolytes, the study of aluminum ion transport in acidic deep eutectic amide-based electrolytes, and the analysis of proton conduction in polybenzimidazole /polyphosphoric acid (PBI/PPA) membranes synthesized via a novel route.

These findings highlight the unique capabilities of NMR spectroscopic techniques to provide a multi-faceted understanding of energy storage materials and underscore its value as a powerful tool for advancing next-generation battery technologies. The insights generated here pave the way for rational design strategies to develop safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable energy storage systems.

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