Operando Chemo-Mechanics of Materials and Interfaces
The Advanced Materials and Electrochemistry for Energy (AMEE) Laboratory at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), led by Dr. Özgür Çapraz, investigates electrochemical processes and their coupling with mechanical deformation, interfacial reactions, and materials degradation. Our research integrates advanced operando mechanical characterization, electrochemistry, and materials science to address fundamental challenges in energy storage, electrocatalysis, electrodeposition, corrosion, and electrochemical critical mineral extraction.
Research
We investigate fundamental mechanisms governing
electrochemical energy storage materials,
with an emphasis on coupled electrochemical
and mechanical processes.
- Electrode Chemo-Mechanics: Electrochemical deformation, phase transitions, and mechanical instabilities.
- Electrochemical I Interphases: Interfacial reactions, SEI/CEI evolution, and chemo-mechanical degradation.
- Solid-State Batteries: Mechanical evolution of solid electrolyte and electrode-electrolyte interfaces.
- Emerging Battery Chemistries: Lithium-, sodium-, potassium-, and zinc-based energy storage systems.
- Extraction of Critical Minerals: Electrochemical extraction of uranyl from aqueous medium.
Experimental Capabilities
Our laboratory employs complementary operando
techniques to investigate mechanical and
interfacial responses during electrochemical
processes.
- Operando Strain: Digital image correlation (DIC) for measuring electrode deformation during cycling.
- Operando Stress: Multi-beam optical stress sensing (MOSS) for monitoring stress evolution in electrodes.
- Operando Mass & Viscoelasticity: Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring for interfacial processes.
- Complementary Characterization: Connecting mechanical measurements with electrochemical and complementary materials characterization.
Publications
Our publications address operando electrochemical
stress and strain, electrode phase transformations,
interfacial stability, charge storage mechanisms and degradation mechanisms in next-generation batteries.
Research highlights include studies of chemo-mechanical instabilities in battery electrodes, deformation in solid-state battery materials,
and charge storage mechanism in Li-air batteries.
People
The AMEE Laboratory brings together researchers
with backgrounds in chemical engineering,
materials science, electrochemistry, and
mechanical characterization.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Özgür Çapraz
Associate Professor, Department of Chemical,
Biochemical & Environmental Engineering, UMBC.
News & Activities
Follow our latest research publications,
invited presentations, conference activities,
student achievements, and science outreach.
Join & Collaborate
We welcome collaborations with academic
researchers, national laboratories, and
industry partners interested in operando
battery characterization and electrochemical
chemo-mechanics.
Research opportunities are also available
for motivated graduate and undergraduate
students.