Alp Sehirlioglu (MSE CWRU)

Date: Mon. April 15th, 2024, 12:45 pm-1:45 pm
Location: Foldy (Rock 223)
Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=kWpSZMQAAAAJ&hl=en

Exploring Catalytic Potential: Novel Applications and Post-Processing Methods for LiCoO2

Alp Sehirlioglu

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Case Western Reserve University

Abstract: LiCoO2 (LCO) serves as a typical cathode material in Li-ion batteries, containing lithium and cobalt, both acknowledged for their potential toxicity. The primary focus in repurposing LCO lies in catalysis, particularly in decomposing environmental pollutants. Previous attempts in utilizing LCO for photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and thermocatalysis have shown promising results. LCO’s layered structure facilitates delithiation and intercalation, crucial processes in chemical exfoliation. This exfoliation process involves protonation and intercalation, resulting in various intermediate forms and byproducts, all showing potential in catalytic applications.

In our study, we employ three distinct forms of LCO powder: (i) acid-treated post-protonation, (ii) post-base treatment indicating readiness for exfoliation, and (iii) nanosheets integrated into protective particles via Pickering emulsions. Our applications cover a wide range of areas, including the degradation of methylene blue, oxidation of carbon monoxide, decomposition of ammonium perchlorate, and removal of bisphenol A (BPA) from water. Realizing the full potential of these applications requires a deep understanding of the chemical, structural, and morphological changes that occur during the processes.

We introduce novel processing methods that go beyond the traditional two-step procedure, allowing fabrication in a pH-neutral aqueous medium instead of the highly alkaline nanosheet solution typical in traditional techniques. Additionally, we explore supplementary techniques to stabilize nanosheets in various non-aqueous solvents and enhance their production yields. The precise yield depends on a combination of parameters, including acid concentration, base concentration, and base type, similar to a ‘Goldilocks effect.’ These processing conditions greatly influence the efficacy of the resulting powders and nanosheets as catalytic materials, with narrow processing windows yielding exceptional performance metrics.

Host: Walter Lambrecht