Jeff Dahn Professor Combinatorial Development of Advanced Materials B.Sc., Dalhousie University (1978) M.Sc., University of British Columbia (1980) Ph.D., University of British Columbia (1982) Office Phone: (902) 494-2991 e-mail: jeff.dahn@dal.ca See lab website Full Publication and Patent List Curriculum Vitae Brief Biography

Rechargeable Batteries play a critical role in today's world of mobile communications and portable electronics. Furthermore, the age of hybrid and all-electric vehicles has begun and improved batteries are necessary. The lithium-ion battery is the state-of-the-art rechargeable power source. It stores about twice the energy per unit mass or volume of conventional technologies and is hence very attractive. Sales of small lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries were about $4 billion dollars in 2000. The fundamental physics and chemistry of the current Li-ion battery is based on a process known as "intercalation"; the reversible insertion of guest atoms (like lithium) into host solids (the battery electrode materials). Our research focuses on the synthesis, characterization and understanding of new compounds that can store more guest atoms per formula weight of host. This leads to batteries with even higher energy densities and allows reduction of the size of battery packs to power the same equipment. Our work has lead to about 10 patents and about 100 publications on new materials for lithium-ion batteries in the last 6 years.

We synthesize new materials using a variety of techniques including sol-gel methods, mechanical alloying, magnetron sputtering and direct solid-state reactions. We have begun a large-scale initiative to adopt the practices of Combinatorial Materials Science, where hundreds or thousands of distinct stoichiometries are made in a single experiment. Materials are characterized using many techniques and, in addition, in-situ methods using electrochemical cells with appropriate "windows" are used to monitor changes to the host compounds as a function of intercalant composition. Examples are in-situ x-ray diffraction, in-situ small-angle x-ray scattering, in-situ Mössbauer spectroscopy, and in-situ atomic force microscopy. Theoretical studies and computer simulations, both here and with external collaborators, to explain the behaviour of these materials are also routinely made.

CV of Jeffery Dahn, Ph.D., FRSC

Business Address

Personal Information

Education

Employment History

Awards

Selected Accomplishments

• Maintain one of the largest university laboratories in the world devoted to studies of materials for advanced batteries and fuel cells.
• Helped pioneer the development of the lithium-ion battery.
• The world leader in the development and understanding of carbonaceous materials for use in lithium-ion batteries.
• Over 310 publications in refereed journals and 46 separate inventions with associated issued patents and patents pending.
• Ranked 8th world-wide for impact of publications in the area of Materials Science between 1990 and 1995 by "Science Watch". No other Canadian and no other electrochemical researcher was ranked in the top 25. Presently (Sept. 2004) one of only eight Canadian Materials Scientists or Physicists to be included in ISI's highly cited author list.

Consultant for the following companies

Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows Supervised

Selected Invited lectures given by Jeff Dahn (1993 - onward)

1. J.R. Dahn, "Research Directions for Li-ion Batteries", Argonne National Laboratories, Jan. 21, 1993.
2. J.R. Dahn, "Carbons and Graphites as Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries", The Science of Advanced Batteries, Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 1993.
3. J.R. Dahn, "Carbons and Graphites for Lithium Ion Batteries", Oak Ridge National Labs, February, 1994
4. J.R. Dahn, "Lithium-Ion Batteries - Opportunities for Future Research", General Motors Research, Detroit, MI, Feb. 1994
5. J.R. Dahn, "Electrode Materials for Advanced Li-ion Batteries", Kerr-McGee Corp. Oklahoma City, OK., January 1994.
6. J.R. Dahn, "Lithium-Ion Batteries - Opportunities for Future Research, Electrochemistry Gordon Conference, Ventura, California, January 1994.
7. J.R. Dahn, "In-Situ X-ray Diffraction Studies of Lithium Intercalation Compounds", Solid State Ionics Gordon Conference, New Hampshire, July 1994
8. J.R. Dahn, "Designing, Making, and Understanding High Capacity Carbons for use as Anodes in Lithium-Ion Cells", Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting, Miami, FL, Oct 1994.
9. J.R. Dahn, "Designing, Making, and Understanding High Capacity Carbons for Li-ion Batteries", Plenary Lecture, American Carbon Society, San Diego, CA, July 20, 1995
10. J.R. Dahn, "Special 3 Lecture Symposium for the International Battery Materials Association on Carbons and Graphites for Li-ion Batteries", Tokyo, Japan Feb. 27,28 1995.
11. J.R. Dahn, "Carbons and Graphites for Li-ion Batteries", US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Maryland, Jan 18., 1995
12. J.R. Dahn, "New Materials for Better Batteries", McMaster University, Jan. 1995.
13. J.R. Dahn, "New Materials for Better Batteries", 3M Corp., St. Paul, MN, Nov. 7, 1995
14. J.R. Dahn, "Some Alternatives to Carbon as Anodes in Li-Ion Batteries" - Research Award Address, Electrochemical Society, San Antonio, Oct. 7, 1996
15. J.R. Dahn, "Carbons for Li-ion Batteries", CIC Congress, St. John's, NF, June 24, 1996.
16. J.R. Dahn, "A Comprehensive Study of Carbons prepared from Natural Precursors for Li-ion Battery Applications", 8^th International Meeting on Li-Ion Batteries, Nagoya, Japan, June 20, 1996 (presented by A.M. Wilson)
17. J.R. Dahn, "The Physicists Battery", Herzberg Medal Lecture, Canadian Association of Physicists, Ottawa, June 18, 1996.
18. J.R. Dahn, "Photoelectron Spectroscopy can lead to Better Understanding of Materials for Li-ion Batteries", CIC Congress, Windsor, Ont., June 1997.
19. J.R. Dahn, "Alternatives to carbon as Anodes in Li-Ion Batteries", CIC Congress, Windsor, Ont. June 1997.
20. J.R. Dahn, "Key Factors Controlling the Reversibility of the Reaction of Sn₂BPO₆ and SnO₂ with Lithium", Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting, Paris, France, Sept. 1997.
21. J.R. Dahn, "Tin-containing materials as anodes for Li-ion cells", 9^th International Meeting on Li Batteries, Edinburgh, Scotland, July 12-17, 1998.
22. J.R. Dahn, "Quantum leaps in battery technology," CAP Congress, Waterloo, Ontario June 1998.
23. J.R. Dahn, "Batteries in and around us", Canadian Utilities Distinguished Lectureship, University of Alberta, February 27, 1998.
24. J.R. Dahn, "New materials for better batteries", California Institute of Technology, February 24, 1999.
25. J.R. Dahn, "Doubling the energy of the Li-ion battery", ECS Local Section, Minneapolis, MN, Feb.4, 1999.
26. J.R. Dahn, "Layered Li-Mn-oxides with unusual oxygen stacking", 3^rd International Meeting on New Materials for Electrochemical Systems, Montreal, July 4-7, 1999.
27. J.R. Dahn, "New materials for better batteries", McGill University, September 17, 1999.
28. (28-32) J.R. Dahn, "Li-Ion Battery Tutorial and Update" (90 minute invited yearly lecture), POWER 96, POWER 97, POWER 98, POWER 99, POWER 2000, POWER 2001 (each October of 1996-2001), Santa Clara, Ca.
33. 33. J.R. Dahn, "Opportunities for Combinatorial Chemistry in Li-ion Battery Materials", Symyx Corporation, Santa Clara, Ca., Oct. 1999
34. (34-36) J.R. Dahn, "Combinatorial Materials Science", Acadia University, University of PEI and St. Francis Xavier Univ., Feb. 2000
37. J.R. Dahn, "Understanding Thermal Runaway in Li-ion Batteries", 10^th International Meeting on Li Batteries, Como, Italy, June 2000.
38. J.R. Dahn, " New Layered Cathode Materials Li[Ni_xLi_(1/3-2x/3)Mn_(2/3-x/3)]O₂ and Li[Ni_xCo_1-2xMn_x]O₂ for Lithium Ion Batteries", 42^nd Battery Symposium in Japan, Tokyo, Nov., 2001.
39. J.R. Dahn, " New Layered Cathode Materials Li[Ni_xLi_(1/3-2x/3)Mn_(2/3-x/3)]O₂ and Li[Ni_xCo_1-2xMn_x]O₂ for Lithium Ion Batteries" 11th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries, Monterey, California, June 23-28, 2002.
40. J.R. Dahn, "Lithium-Ion Battery Update and comments on Microfuel Cells", 20th International Seminar on Primary and Secondary Lithium Batteries, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, March 2003.
41. David Stevens and Jeff Dahn, Possible Degradation Mechanisms for Carbon Supported Catalysts (Invited Oral Lecture) Fuel Cell Gordon Conference (Summer 2003).
42. Jeff Dahn Li[Ni_xCo_1-2xMn_x]O₂ and Li[Ni_xLi_(1-2x)/3Mn_(2-x)/3]O₂ positive electrodes for Li-ion batteries (Invited Oral Lecture), Solid-State Studies of Ceramics Gordon Conference (Summer 2003)
43. J.R. Dahn, The "Drug-Store" Li-ion Battery - How do we get there? - 21st International Seminar on Primary and Secondary Lithium Batteries, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, March 2004.
44. J.R. Dahn - Single Molecule Electronics in Lithium Ion Batteries - CIAR Nanoelectronics Meeting, Mt. Tremblant, Que., March 2004.
45. J.R. Dahn, , Design of Amorphous Alloy Electrodes for Li-ion Batteries: A Big Challenge, 12th International Meeting on Li-ion Batteries, Nara, Japan, June 2004.
46. J.R. Dahn, Combinatorial and High Throughput Materials Science Applied to Battery and Fuel Cell Problems, University of Southampton, March 2005.
47. J.R. Dahn, Combinatorial and High Throughput Materials Science Applied to Battery and Fuel Cell Problems, Medtronic Corporation Central Research Dept., Minneapolis, MN, USA Feb 2005.
48. J.R. Dahn, Chemical Overcharge and Overdischarge Protection for Lithium-ion Batteries with LiFePO₄ Positive Electrodes, Toyota Technical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, March 2005.
49. J.R. Dahn, Chemical Overcharge and Overdischarge Protection for Lithium-ion Batteries with LiFePO₄ Positive Electrodes, 22nd International Battery Seminar and Exhibit, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, March 14-17 (2005).
50. J.R. Dahn, Development of Durable and High-Performance Electrocatalysts and Electrocatalyst Support Materials, Invited Lecture (#1164) at the Fall Meeting of the Electrochemical Society, Los Angeles, Oct 16-21, (2005).
51. J.R. Dahn, Studies of the 2,5 ditertbutyl 1,4 dimethoxybenzene Overcharge Shuttle in 18650-sized LiFePO₄/Graphite cells, Invited lecture (#217) at the Fall Meeting of the Electrochemical Society, Los Angeles, Oct 16-21, (2005).
52. J.R. Dahn, Combinatorial and High Throughput Studies of Amorphous Sn-M-C Negative Materials ( M= Co, Ti, V, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr), 23rd International Battery Seminar and Exhibit, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, March 13-16 (2006).
53. J.R. Dahn, Invited Plenary Lecture: I. Additives for overcharge protection and II. The safety of cells with alloy negatives, 14th International Meeting on Li-ion Batteries, Biarritz, France, June 18-23, (2006).
54. J.R. Dahn, Invited Keynote Lecture: Combinatorial and High Throughput Studies of Amorphous Sn-M-C Negative Materials ( M= Co, Ti, V, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr), International Society for Electrochemistry, Edinburgh, Scotland, August 27-31 (2006).
55. J.R. Dahn, Combinatorial and High Throughput Studies of Amorphous Sn-M-C Negative Materials ( M= Co, Ti, V, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr), Electrochemical Society Fall meeting, Cancun, Mexico, Oct 29-Nov 3, (2006).
56. J.R. Dahn, Some Thoughts on Our Energy Future, Canadian Technology Leaders Seminar Series, Canadian Embassy, Washington, D.C., USA, Nov 14, (2006).
57. J.R. Dahn, Prospects for Si (only) electrodes for Li-ion batteries, 24th International Battery Seminar and Exhibit, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, March (2007).
58. J.R. Dahn, Combinatorial Studies of Li-ion battery electrode materials and PEM fuel cell catalysts, Plenary Lecture, International Society of Electrochemistry, Banff Alberta, Sept 9-14, (2007).

Conference presentations (last 5 years)

• Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting, San Antonio Texas, Oct. 1996
• IBA Meeting, Tuscon, Arizona, Oct. 1996
• POWER 96, Santa Clara, Oct 96
• CIC Meeting, Windsor, June 1997
• Carbon Conference, Pennsylvania, July 1997
• Electrochemical Society, Fall Meeting, Paris, Sept. 1997
• POWER 97, Santa Clara, Oct 97
• MRS meeting, Boston, Dec. 1997
• CAP Meeting, Waterloo, June 1998
• 9^th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries, Edinburgh, July 1998
• POWER 98, Santa Clara, Oct 98
• Electrochemical Society, Fall Meeting, Boston, Nov. 1998.
• New Materials for Batteries and Fuel Cells, Montreal, July 1999
• Carbon Conference, Charleston SC, July 1999
• POWER 99, Santa Clara, Oct 99
• Electrochemical Society, Fall Meeting, Honolulu, Oct. 1999
• 10^th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries, Como, Italy, June 2000.
• Electrochemical Society, Fall Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, Oct. 2000
• POWER 2000, San Diego, Oct. 2000
• Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting, San Francisco, Ca, Sept. 2001
• 11th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries, Monterey, Ca, June 2002
• Gordon Conference on High Throughput Materials Science, New Hampshire, July 2002
• Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 2002.
• Gordon Conference on Solid State Ceramics, August 2003.
• Fuel Cell Gordon Conference, Rhode Island, June 2003.
• Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting, Orlando, Florida, Oct. 2003.
• Materials Research Society, Boston, Mass., Dec. 2003.
• Connecticut Fuel Cell Conference, Storrs, Conn., March 2004.
• 12th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries, Nara, Japan, June 2004.
• Electrochemical Society Fall Metting, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 2004.
• Lithium Battery Discussion, Arcachon, France, May 23-27, 2005.
• Carbon Conference, Korea, June (2005).
• Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting, Los Angeles, Oct 16-21, (2005).
• Canadian Chemical Society, Halifax, N.S., May 27-30, (2006).
• 13th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries, Biarritz, France, June 18-23 (2006).
• Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting, Cancun, Mexico, Oct 29-Nov. 3 (2006).

Professional affiliations and external committees (last 5 years)

• British Columbia Science Council Energy Grant Selection Panel (1992-1996)
• Member of the Electrochemical Society
• Battery Division Executive Committee, Member (1998-2001)
• Member of the American Physical Society
• NSERC GSC 28 grant selection committee (1999-2001)
• Chair - NSERC GSC 28, 2000-2001.
• Member of the NSERC University-Industry Advisory Panel, 2003-2005.

Brief Biography of Jeff Dahn