Building a Better Battery Oklahoma State University-Tulsa researchers are working to improve the technology that powers our lives BY K I M A R C H E R
As society becomes more reliant on electronic devices such as cellphones, laptops and tablets, scientists are scrambling to develop lithium-ion batteries that are more powerful, safer, longerlasting and lightweight. The advent of popular smartphone apps that drain batteries, like the Pokémon Go game, and reports of batteries overheating in cellphones and other devices have only raised the stakes. Despite recent research suggesting lithium-ion batteries are nearing maximum energy capacity, Okla-
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homa State University-Tulsa faculty and graduate student researchers in the School of Materials Science and Engineering are making strides on increasing power and extending battery life. At the Helmerich Research Center (HRC) in Tulsa, Pankaj Sarin, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, and graduate student researcher Swathiha Lakshmi Kumar, have zeroed in on specific changes, including the use of different processing methods and materials.
“This is important research because lithium-ion batteries are a primary power source in everything from cell phones to laptops. They are the most popular type of rechargeable battery and are used in most consumer electronics,” Sarin says. “The purpose of this project is to improve longevity and performance, lower costs and reduce the weight of lithium-ion batteries.” Raman Singh, OSU associate dean for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and HRC director, says the lithium-ion battery project is part of OSU-Tulsa’s overarching goal of building important connections with local industry. “Our faculty and graduate students work collaboratively with startup companies on research and development with the goal of commercializing a new product,” he says. “This research project is the kind that might catch the eye of an entrepreneur who would like to partner with OSU-Tulsa in bringing new lithium-ion battery technology to the market.” In the past, Sarin devised strategies for battery materials research and sought resources and personnel to translate them into action. Then Kumar applied to the master’s degree program in materials science and engineering and expressed a desire to conduct lithium-ion battery research. Around the same time, OSU-Tulsa was awarded a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, with Sarin as the co-principal investigator, to start a
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