The Battery and Energy Storage Technologies (BEST) Laboratory

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Dr. Denis Y. W. YU

Batteries and energy storage systems are an indispensable part of our daily life. Cell phone, laptops, and other portable devices all runs on batteries. In the future, electric vehicles and large renewable storage systems also require an efficient energy storage medium. Capacity and energy density are of course important aspects of battery materials, but equally important are the stability of the materials and their interactions with electrolyte.

Research undertaken at the BEST Lab follows two main areas:  understanding fundamental mechanisms in battery materials  and  developing novel technologies for applications . On the material side, apart from synthesizing materials, a major focus is on characterization of the material during charge and discharge to study their structural changes of the materials. Is the structure of the material stable during charge and discharge? What types of surface reaction are occurring? What are the degradation mechanisms of the material? Are nano-materials really suitable for battery applications? These are some of the questions we would like to investigate.

Battery performance is affected by both the properties of the material and the way we make the electrodes. Another research area is to explore the stability of the electrode as a whole.

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Current research:

  • Li-ion anode materials
  • Na-ion cathode materials
  • Metal-ion batteries
  • Dual-ion batteries

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Check out our new YouTube Channel on educational videos on energy (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN34Hn-BztACEM0cnfYJ7gQ)

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People

Group leader

Current students:

  • DUAN, Qiaohui (PhD)
  • DONG, Shuyu (PhD)
  • LAM, Yuk Chung (FYP)
  • LAU, Ho Yam (FYP)
  • WONG, Ki Yau (FYP)
  • XUE, Kaiming (PhD)
  • YIN, Xin (RA)
  • ZHENG, Yiyi (PhD)
  • ZHAO, Yu (PhD)
  • ZHOU, Yu (postdoc)
  • ZHU, Hekang (postdoc)

Graduates:

  • CHAN, Cheuk Ying Joyce (FYP 2016-17)
  • CHAN, Wai Yan Kary (FYP 2017-18)
  • CHAN, Wing Yin Jocelyn (FYP 2019-20)
  • CHEN,  Yiran (FYP 2018-19)
  • CHOW, Chun Tak (FYP 2021-22)
  • DAI, Jingxian (MSc 2021-22)
  • DEDN, Fritz (FYP 2018-19)
  • FUNG, Jennies Sze Tsing (FYP 2021-22)
  • GU, Wenchuan (FYP 2015-16)
  • HE, Jieqing (MSc 2013-14)
  • HUANG, Fei Hei (FYP 2019-20)
  • HUNG, Sin Ying Mildred (MSc 2017)
  • HU, Weichen Klose (MSc 2015-16)
  • JIANG, Ruohan (MSc 2014-15)
  • KANG, Wenpei (postdoc)
  • LEE, Pui-Kit Frank (PhD 2015-18)
  • LEE, Seonju (FYP 2020-21)
  • LIN, Cheng (MSc 2013-14)
  • LIN, Xinye (MSc 2018-19)
  • LI, Shuangcheng (MSc 2022)
  • LI, Ying (MSc 2016-17)
  • LI, Yingshun (postdoc)
  • NG, Cheuk Yin Rachel (FYP 2021-22)
  • PAN, Jinming (MSc 2016-17)
  • SU, Bizhe (PhD 2018-21)
  • TAN, Tian (PhD 2019-22)
  • WANG, Huimin (PhD 2016-20)
  • WANG, Shuo (PhD 2016-19)
  • WANG, Wenhui (postdoc)
  • WANG, Yao (PhD 2018-21))
  • WONG, Chun Ho Darren (FYP 2017-18)
  • WONG, Wan Kei Winky (FYP 2015-16)
  • Xu, Zhihao (FYP 2015-16)
  • YAN, Yeung Fong Yvonne (FYP 2016-17)
  • YIN, Yue (UG 2019)
  • YIU, Ka Long (FYP 2021-22)
  • YU, Yan Kei Ann (FYP 2016-17)
  • ZHANG, Jiaolong (PhD 2014-17)
  • ZHANG, Xinyue (MSc 2019)
  • ZHANG, Yanjun (postdoc)
  • ZHAO, Lo (FYP 2019-20)
  • ZHAO, Yujie (MSc 2014-15)
  • ZHOU, Cai (MSc 2022)
  • ZHOU, Hui (postdoc)

Lab photos

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Bicycle Trip

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Alumni Gathering

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Rock Climbing

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Group BBQ

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Denis' group at CityU (Jun 2020)

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Denis' group at CityU (Jul 2019)

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Bowling

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Denis' group at Science Park (Dec 2018)

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Alumni Gathering (May 2018)

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Trip to Kyoto conference

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Denis' group at Science Park (Dec 2017)

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Denis' group at Science Park (Dec 2016)

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Denis' group at Science Park (Dec 2015)

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Denis' group at Science Park (Dec 2014)

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BEST Lab open house (Jan 6, 2014)
Even though we do not have much funding yet, we have a bucket of "gold".

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Denis demonstrating his work in the lab.