Tao Li

Research Interests

Part A: Batteries for Energy Storage

Understanding the solvation structure of electrolytes and its impact on electrode behavior is essential for advancing next-generation batteries. My research focuses on employing advanced characterization tools, particularly synchrotron X-ray techniques, to systematically investigate liquid, molten-salt, and solid-state electrolytes and their influence on the structural evolution of electrodes during electrochemical cycling. For liquid and molten-salt electrolytes, synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is used to probe solvation structures at the nanoscale, serving as a powerful complement to Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy. In particular, we develop ultralow-melting-point molten salt electrolytes through high-entropy and asymmetric salt design to enable stable, high-voltage lithium-metal batteries at room temperature. In parallel, I aim to develop oxide-, halide-, and polymer-based solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) to meet the demands under different operating conditions, with their formation mechanisms and the cathode structural evolution during charge–discharge processes being comprehensively studied through in situ characterization techniques.

Part B: Catalysts for Energy Conversion

Nanocatalysts suffer from several inherent drawbacks, including particle aggregation, poor long-term stability, non-uniform active sites, and low atomic utilization efficiency. In contrast, single-site catalysts, as a special class of heterogeneous catalysts, feature atomically dispersed and structurally uniform active centers anchored on solid supports. This unique structural precision enables high atomic utilization, high selectivity, and a well-defined structure–activity relationship. Our group aims to synthesize single-site catalysts with tunable coordination structures for electrochemical reactions such as the CO₂ reduction reaction (eCO₂RR) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Catalysts with single or dual transition-metal centers are of great interest for achieving enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity. With the assistance of in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), the nature of the active sites and their structural evolution under working conditions can be clearly identified.

Part C: Developing Advanced Characterization Tools for In Situ and Operando Characterization of Catalytic Materials

Understanding the performance of catalyst under technologically realistic conditions remains big challenge. My goal is to use the advanced characterization tools, especially synchrotron X‐ray techniques for the operando study. Synchrotron X‐ray techniques such as Small‐angle X‐ray Scattering (SAXS), X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) will be utilized for the characterization, especially in‐situ characterization. The simultaneous XAS and SAXS will ensure the exact sample volume is evaluated at the same time with two techniques, which facilitate direct correlation of oxidation state and aggregations state. From the in‐situ XAS/SAXS experiment, we not only can probe the local structures of the metal catalyst, but also obtain how the metal catalysts interact with the solvent and with each other. Such technique could also be used for the nanoparticle growth and assembly.