Page 97 - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Proceedings 2017-18

School of Engineering
Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

This process report is aim to report the process of design a tool to characterize the migration in phase transformation
temperature of single crystal ferroelectric materials under electric field (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) and the
learning outcomes of this summer through UROP 1100. The design of the DSC involved mature engineering design,
machining and electric microcontroller. Skills required are Solidworks, milling machine, LabVIEW and microcontroller
(Arduino). This device is significant for future characterization of ferroelectric materials. Select the proper ferroelectric
materials to build energy conversion device from heat to electricity.

Development of Innovative Na-ion Batteries
Supervisor: CIUCCI Francesco / MAE
Student: FONG Wai Ting / SENG Course: UROP1100, Summer
YU Tsz Tat / SENG UROP1000, Summer

Batteries are essential to everyday convenience, one of the most common (types of) batteries is Lithium battery;
lightweight, compact, yet easily shaped and thus very useful. However, the safety issue that it brings had be more
noticeable as they are more utilized, causing economic loss and had risen concerns. Worst still, the supply of lithium is
also doubtful due to the wars and the geographic reasons. Considering that the battery usage will be increasing, and
that evolving sustainable energy system would require a lot of batteries, scientists and engineers; there is a need to
develop a novel, safe, Na-ion batteries. Sodium was selected because of the similar chemical properties and great
abundance. Encouraging results were saw at different test.

Multidimensional Modeling of Nanoionics

Supervisor: CIUCCI Francesco / MAE
Student: SIT Chun Yat / CENG Course: UROP1100, Spring

This Research Aims to study and understand battery modelling by the use of electrochemical impedance Spectrometry
(EIS) and its modelling method, an in-situ method to predict and monitor the performance of battery while the battery is
still in operation (in operando). EIS is a useful, non-complicated and non-destructive technique to evaluate the porous
material/electrode behavior in terms of impedance from experimental data and allow to separate bulk and interfaces
process. However, without a model with physically meaningful parameters defined, it is difficult to analyse the EIS data
in order to characterize the porous material. Therefore, the modelling to interpret the EIS Data arouse the interest of
the researchers. TLS and DDT are two existing models for EIS data analysis, but the two models has its limitation and
inaccuracy, which lead to the necessity of developing a new model to analysis the EIS data.

Solid-State Supercapacitor

Supervisor: HUANG Baoling / MAE
Student: MUK Lai Kan / MAE Course: UROP1100, Fall

Two symmetric flexible solid-state capacitors made up of CNT-GO active material coated graphite paper and solid PVDF-
co-HFP electrolyte soaked with Lithium salt were fabricated with “as-dried” electrolyte and “wet-coating” additive
electrolyte respectively. Cycle Voltammetry and Galvanostatic Tests were conducted on both samples to compare the
effectiveness of such “wet-coating” technique. It was found that the electrolyte solution addition to the electrodes
before assembling the electrodes and electrolyte film can facilitate the interfacial contact between the active material
and electrolyte, and thus better utilize the active materials micro pores to achieve a higher specific capacitance of 210
F/g at current density of 2.0 A/g, and have a higher capacitance performance under bending.

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