Yue GAO

Rechargeable batteries are the key energy storage device in the sustainable electrical system and the essential partner of clean energies. In high-energy-density batteries, the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is pivotal in stabilizing their interface for stable operation, high safety, and long cycle life. However, the conventional SEI, consisting of inorganic salts, is constantly reforming, accompanied by continuous side reactions at the interface, resulting in the capacity decay of batteries. Therefore, designing a stable SEI is a major challenge that must be addressed in the research of next-generation high-energy-density batteries.

To address this problem, Yue Gao proposed a molecular-level SEI design using electrochemically reactive organic materials, effectively regulating the nanostructure and composition of the SEI. This new stable cycling and high safety of the next-generation batteries is based on lithium and silicon anodes.

Gao’s research is focused on the development of the next-generation batteries with functions including high energy density (2-3 times higher than that of current lithium-ion batteries), extreme fast charge (5-10 min) of batteries, and customized energy storage systems for intelligent systems such as robotics and drones, as well as applications at extreme conditions such as low temperatures, high pressures, and outer space.

Gao Yue received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University in the United States in 2018, and then continued to carry out research as a Vagelos Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. He joined Fudan University at the end of 2020 as an assistant professor at the Department of Macromolecular Science. His research group widely pursues transformative advances in energy storage, energy conversion, and robotics by designing organic and polymer materials, as well as exploring mechanisms underpinning functions.