Stanford Advisors

  • Yi Cui, Postdoctoral Faculty Sponsor

Contact

  • Academic
    jholo@stanford.edu
    University - Scholar Department: Materials Science and Engineering Position: Postdoctoral Scholar

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 4045

All Publications

  • Asymmetric ether solvents for high-rate lithium metal batteries NATURE ENERGY Choi, I., Chen, Y., Shah, A., Florian, J., Serrao, C., Holoubek, J., Lyu, H., Zhang, E., Lee, J., Lin, Y., Kim, S., Park, H., Zhang, P., Lee, J., Qin, J., Cui, Y., Bao, Z. 2025

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41560-025-01716-w

    View details for Web of Science ID 001421539700001

  • Crowding Agent Stabilizes Aqueous Electrolyte for Reversible Iron Metal Anode ACS ENERGY LETTERS Greenburg, L. C., Holoubek, J., Zhang, P., Ai, H., Zhang, E., Liu, C., Feng, G., Cui, Y. 2025

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acsenergylett.4c03268

    View details for Web of Science ID 001412253100001

  • Monofluorinated acetal electrolyte for high-performance lithium metal batteries. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Zhang, E., Chen, Y., Holoubek, J., Yu, Z., Zhang, W., Lyu, H., Choi, I. R., Kim, S. C., Serrao, C., Cui, Y., Bao, Z. 2025; 122 (2): e2418623122

    Abstract

    High degree of fluorination for ether electrolytes has resulted in improved cycling stability of lithium metal batteries due to stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and good oxidative stability. However, the sluggish ion transport and environmental concerns of high fluorination degree drive the need to develop less fluorinated structures. Here, we depart from the traditional ether backbone and introduce bis(2-fluoroethoxy)methane (F2DEM), featuring monofluorination of the acetal backbone. High coulombic efficiency and stable long-term cycling in Li||Cu half cells can be achieved with F2DEM even under fast Li metal plating conditions. The performance of F2DEM is further compared with diethoxymethane (DEM) and 2-[2-(2,2-difluoroethoxy)ethoxy]-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (F5DEE). A significantly lower overpotential is observed with F2DEM, which improves energy efficiency and enables its application in high-rate conditions. Comparative studies of F2DEM with DEM and F5DEE in anode-free lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) LFP pouch cells and high-loading LFP coin cells further show improved capacity retention of F2DEM electrolyte, demonstrating its practical applicability. More importantly, we also extensively investigate the underlying mechanism for the superior performance of F2DEM through various techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cryogenic electron microscopy, focused ion beam, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and titration gas chromatography. Overall, F2DEM facilitates improved Li deposition morphology with reduced amount of dead Li. This enables F2DEM to show superior performance, especially under higher charging and slower discharging rate conditions.

    View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.2418623122

    View details for PubMedID 39772742