Qianli Chen

Dr. Qianli Chen’s research focuses on the charge carrier transport, including ion transport and electron transport, which are essential process that governs the performance of energy devices. We are interested in understanding the fundamental correlations between materials structure, and the electronic and ionic transport properties. The research topics includes the ion transport in the solid electrolyte for fuel cells, Li-ion batteries, and the electrical potential distribution in emerging solar cells. We have discovered that the activation energy for ion transport can be tuned by mechanical strain. To understand the charge carrier transport mechanisms, we develop and use complementary in-situ experimental techniques, including the combination of conventional electrical and electrochemical characterization of materials with scanning probe microscopies, X-ray, neutron scattering and vibrational spectroscopies. The new knowledge obtained from these unique methods paves the way for rational design and engineering of novel materials for low cost-high efficiency devices, which leads to better utilization of renewable energy sources for a sustainable energy economy and a safe, clean environment.