Batteries 2022 Best Paper Award Announcement and Interview with Dr. Yang Zhang, One of the Winners

All papers published in 2022 in Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) were considered for this award. After a thorough evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, citations, and downloads, the winner was selected:

“Revisiting Polytetrafluorethylene Binder for Solvent-Free Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Fabrication”
by Yang Zhang, Frederik Huld, Song Lu, Camilla Jektvik, Fengliu Lou and Zhixin Yu
Batteries 2022, 8(6), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8060057

The winners will receive CHF 500 and a chance to publish a paper free of charge after peer review in Batteries in 2024.

Author names: Yang Zhang, Frederik Huld, Song Lu, Camilla Jektvik, Fengliu Lou and Zhixin Yu
Affiliation: Beyonder As and University of Stavanger
Research Interests: solvent-free electrode manufacturing, prelithiation, high-energy-density LiBs, extra-fast-charge technology, LiBs failure analysis, etc.

The following is a short interview with the first author Dr. Yang Zhang:

1. Could you give a brief introduction of yourself to the readers?
My name is Yang Zhang and I obtained my Ph.D. from the University of Stavanger (UiS), Norway in 2023. This work is part of my industrial Ph.D. project, which is a collaboration between UiS and Beyonder AS, Norway, aimed at developing a technology for the large-scale production of electrodes using a solvent-free method. We hope that the technology developed in this project can be applied to Beyonder's battery products, reducing energy consumption in the battery production process while enhancing battery performance. Our team members are from both UiS and Beyonder AS.

2. Could you please briefly introduce the main content of the winning paper?
Our award-winning paper, titled “Revisiting Polytetrafluorethylene Binder for Solvent-Free Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Fabrication”, explores an innovative solvent-free process for creating anode electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. The process was conducted in a roll-to-roll way, which can be scaled up for production. We utilized polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a binder and elucidated the root cause of the fast-capacity-fading PTFE-based anode, primarily due to the irreversible reaction between PTFE and lithium ions at a low potential. This insight is crucial to enhancing the performance and lifespan of LiBs with anodes using PTFE as a binder. Based on our understanding of the degradation mechanism, hard carbon was adopted as the anode’s active material, achieving a decent stability performance. Our work shed light on the development of PTFE-based solvent-free anodes with a longer cycling life.

3. What is your current research and why did you choose this research field?
My current research is focused on solvent-free electrodes’ manufacturing. I chose this field because it offers a sustainable approach to battery manufacturing with the potential to significantly improve energy density and energy consumption savings during the electrode manufacturing process, critical to the advancement of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Also, all-solid-state batteries are considered the “holy grail” of battery technology, which can increase energy density and address safety issues at the same time. Solvents from technology will also play a pivotal role in all-solid-state batteries’ manufacturing.

4. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
In the coming years, I anticipate that research topics such as all-solid-state batteries (ASSB), lithium-rich manganese-layered oxide (LRM) cathode materials, and lithium metal batteries will gain significant interest. These areas are pivotal in achieving highly safer battery technologies and improved energy densities, which are essential for the next generation of electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

5. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to submit your paper? What benefits do you think authors can gain when publishing their articles in Batteries?
We chose to submit our paper to the Batteries journal because it is a reputable, open access platform that covers a wide spectrum of topics within battery science. Publishing in Batteries offers authors the benefit of reaching a broader audience and increasing the visibility of their work, which is essential for the dissemination of scientific findings and fostering collaboration within the research community.

6. How was your experience submitting to Batteries?
Our experience with submitting to Batteries has been very positive. The editorial team and peer reviewers provided constructive feedback that helped us refine our manuscript. The review process was efficient and professional and greatly contributed to the final quality of our paper.

7. Can you briefly describe the key to a happy laboratory life? Have you ever encountered any difficulties conducting research and how did you overcome them?
The key to a fulfilling laboratory life is fostering a collaborative environment and maintaining a positive atmosphere. When faced with research challenges, we rely on team discussions, interdisciplinary cooperation, and the collective expertise of our members to find innovative solutions.

8. We are an open access journal. How do you think open access impacts the authors?
Open access has a profound impact on authors by democratizing access to research. It allows our work to be freely available to a global audience, facilitating the exchange of ideas and accelerating scientific progress. This model supports the broader scientific community by making research more accessible and transparent. However, while the open access model allows our research to reach a wider audience, the initial publication fees can be a burden for researchers, especially for young investigators. If these costs could be reduced, I believe researchers would be more inclined to publish their work in open access journals to reach a larger readership.

9. As the winner of this award, is there something you want to express or someone you wish to thank most?
Winning this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of myself and my colleagues at UiS and Beyonder AS. I am particularly grateful to my collaborators for their invaluable contributions and to the families, who have supported us throughout this journey. Their support has been instrumental in achieving this recognition. Additionally, the main body of this research work was conducted at Beyonder AS, and I would like to express my special gratitude to them for the convenience and support they provided for my research.