September 29 | 2026 Triangle Student Research Competition, North Carolina
Vadim Shipitsyn presented his research work on the Annual TSRC 2026 Competition; and was one of the Organizing Committee to make this event succesful.
The competition brought people from academia and US industry in various fields related to innovative technologies, energy storage and conversion, biotechnologies and critical materials.
August 10-11 | 2026 MGI PI Meeting
Washington DC
Dr. Lin Ma and Vadim Shipitsyn presented results of the collaborative project "DMREF: NSF-NSERC: Data-Driven Multi-Element Doping for Optimally Controlled Ion-Electron Conduction" on the biannual MGI PI Meeting.
The workshop brings together awardees and researchers to assess the current status of the Materials Genome Initiative, discuss challenges and successes and build collaborative frameworks around data-driven AI/ML and materials innovation.
August 9, 2026 | “Small Change to Battery Liquid Helps Sodium-Ion Batteries Last Much Longer”
A team of researchers led by the Department of Applied Physical Science at UNC-Chapel Hill has found that a small change to the liquid inside a sodium-ion battery can help protect it from rapid degradation and extend its life, particularly at higher temperatures and voltages, according to a study published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A. The advance could help make sodium-ion batteries a more practical alternative for electric vehicles, renewable-energy storage and power-hungry data centers.
The researchers changed one ingredient in the battery’s liquid electrolyte, replacing a standard chemical with a similar version that contains fluorine, along with a small amount of another fluorine-based additive. That seemingly minor change altered the chemical reactions inside the battery, causing a thin uniform layer of sodium fluoride to form on the surface of the battery’s positive electrode. Shipitsyn said this layer acts like a protective shield, helping prevent damaging chemical reactions that would otherwise reduce the battery’s performance and shorten its lifespan.
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
July 8, 2026 | "Study Identifies Chemical Key to Safer, More Powerful Sodium-Ion Batteries "
As scientists race to develop lower-cost alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, researchers in the Department of Applied Physical Science at UNC-Chapel Hill have uncovered a key to making sodium-ion batteries safer. Their study, published in the Journal of Power Sources, found that changing the battery’s electrolyte—the liquid that carries charged particles between its electrodes—can significantly improve thermal stability, providing a roadmap for designing high-energy batteries that are less likely to overheat.
“Our goal was to understand why some battery materials become unstable when heated while others remain much safer,” said Michael Chak, lead author of the study and an APS Ph.D. student. “By combining laboratory experiments with computer modeling, we were able to identify the chemical reactions that trigger thermal instability and show how changing the electrolyte solvent can dramatically improve safety.”
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
May 14, 2026 | “New Battery Manufacturing Method Could Save Water and Reduce Waste”
The study, “Rinse-Free, Sodium-Efficient Synthesis of O3-Type Layered Oxide Materials Enabled by Acetate Precursors,” focused on a battery component known as the cathode, which is one of the most important parts of a battery because it stores and releases energy during charging and use. The researchers worked with a sodium-ion cathode material called NFM111, a layered oxide made from sodium, nickel, iron and manganese.
“We wanted to find a way to eliminate this water-intensive rinsing process while still producing a high-quality cathode material,” said Vadim Shipitsyn, lead author of the study and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences.
“This work shows that greener and more resource-efficient synthesis routes are possible without sacrificing material quality,” said Ma. “If sodium-ion batteries are going to support the growing global demand for energy storage, sustainable manufacturing methods like this will be essential.”
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
May 11, 2026 | Triangle Soft Matter Workshop
Chapel Hill
Dominion Fredericks and Sarah Rackers presented their work under supervision of Dr. Ronit Freeman and Dr. Lin Ma; and won the poster award!
This workshop connects scientists working in soft materials fields, including polymers, colloid science, synthetic and natural biomaterials, biological systems, and condensed matter physics.
This event brings together researchers, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars from across the Research Triangle (UNC-CH, Duke University, and NC State University).
May 4, 2026 | "New Dry Process Could Cut Water and Energy Use in Battery Production"
At the center of their work is a study, “A Guide from Laboratory Jet Milling as an Enabling Step in Sustainable All-Dry Manufacturing of Battery Materials,” recently published in Energy Storage Manufacturing Science. The research focuses on a small but powerful step in battery production that could make a big environmental difference.
“Conventional manufacturing can require enormous volumes of water and multiple drying steps, which adds both cost and environmental impact,” said Fadilullahi Ayodeji Adeniyi, a lead author of the paper a Morehead-Cain Global Fellow at UNC.
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
April 6, 2026 | “Scientists Boost Sodium-Ion Battery Performance with Smarter Electrolyte Design”
In the race to build better batteries, scientists are looking for ways to store energy more safely, make it last longer and charge it faster. A recent Nano Energy study led by researchers in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill takes an important step in that direction by focusing on sodium-ion batteries, a promising alternative to the lithium-ion batteries found in most phones and electric cars today.
“We found that by carefully designing how sodium ions are ‘wrapped’ by the electrolyte molecules, we can control how easily they move and how stable the battery remains over time,” - Vadim Shipitsyn said. Professor Ma emphasized the broader impact of the work: “This research shows that small changes at the molecular level can have a big effect on battery performance,” he said. “By understanding and controlling these interactions, we can design safer, longer-lasting energy storage systems.”
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
January 21, 2026 | "Researchers Find a Way to Slow the Hidden Damage Inside Lithium-ion Batteries"
A study published in the journal EES Batteries, “Unraveling Interphase-driven Failure Pathways in LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4/graphite Pouch Cells,” led by Chanmonirath (Michael) Chak, a Ph.D. student in UNC’s Department of Applied Physical Sciences, takes a close look at this problem by studying a promising battery material and uncovering why it fails over time, and how to slow that failure down. Scientists have been exploring a middle ground known as lithium manganese iron phosphate, or LMFP. By replacing some of the iron with manganese, LMFP batteries can operate at a higher voltage and store more energy while still using earth-abundant elements like iron and manganese.
“LMFP has a lot of attractive qualities,” said Chak. “It’s safer than many high-energy cathodes, it avoids expensive metals and it has the potential to deliver more energy than traditional lithium iron phosphate.”
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
December 16, 2025 | “By showing that fluorinated ethers dramatically reduce battery wear, heat generation and safety risks, this research points to a promising direction for future designs.”
A recent study from the Department of Applied Physical Sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill took a close look at how a small chemical change to that liquid can make a big difference. Published in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society, the paper compares two almost-identical liquid solvents—one “regular” and one with added fluorine atoms—to see which performs better inside sodium-ion pouch cells, a type of battery used for practical, larger-format testing. The team tested two solvents: DEE, a standard ether solvent, and F4DEE, a fluorinated version in which fluorine atoms were added to the molecule. That one change made the liquid slightly thicker and reduced how quickly ions move through it, but surprisingly it gave the battery major improvements in both lifetime and safety.
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
November 17, 2025 | “This research shows how carefully engineered electrolytes can dramatically improve battery life"
A team of researchers led by UNC-Chapel Hill’s Department of Applied Physical Sciences has developed a new electrolyte formula that dramatically improves how long sodium-ion batteries last, according to a study published in the Journal of Power Sources.For Lin Ma, senior author of the paper and an APS assistant professor, the study is part of a broader effort to develop sustainable materials for next-generation batteries.
“As we transition to renewable energy, we need storage technologies that are both scalable and sustainable,” said Lin Ma, Ph.D. “Sodium-ion batteries could play a vital role in stabilizing the grid by storing excess energy from solar and wind so it can be used when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.”
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
October 28, 2025 | “By showing that fluorinated ethers dramatically reduce battery wear, heat generation and safety risks, this research points to a promising direction for future designs.”
In a study recently published in ECS Advances, Lin Ma, Ph.D., senior author and assistant professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences, with Ph.D. students Michael Chak and Vadim Shipitsyn, investigated why sodium-ion batteries lose capacity and efficiency over time, especially when operated at high temperatures and voltages. Their findings point to a surprising culprit: interactions between the two ends of the battery—the cathode and the anode. Traditional sodium-ion batteries use a “hard carbon” anode. While reliable, it doesn’t store much energy. The UNC team replaced it with a tin alloy anode, which can hold much more sodium, boosting the battery’s volumetric energy density—essentially, how much energy fits into a given space. That makes tin anodes especially appealing for grid-scale energy storage, where compactness and capacity are key.
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
October 7, 2025 | “Sodium-ion batteries are not just a replacement for lithium; they could be a better fit for certain applications, especially where cost, abundance and safety matter most.”
Published in the 2025 Energy and Fuels Rising Stars special issue, the paper, “Electronic Structure and Safety Insights into Prussian Blue Analog Cathode Behavior at Elevated Temperatures in Sodium-Ion Batteries,” sheds light on how a key class of materials, known as Prussian blue analogs (PBAs), behave under heat—a critical factor for both performance and safety. “Safety is just as important as performance when it comes to designing batteries for large-scale energy storage,” said Lin Ma, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences. “By understanding how water content and temperature affect Prussian blue analogs, we can make them both more efficient and safer to use.”
Read the story on the APS website: click here
by Dave DeFusco
August 17-21, 2025 | ACS Fall 2025
Washington DC
Our students attended the meeting of the American Chemical Society and shared their latest research results, discussing and exchanging ideas with other research groups.
August 5, 2025 | “The beauty of our approach is that it’s simple, dry, low-cost and environmentally friendly,” said Dr. Ma, “and the performance improvements are dramatic.”
A new study led by Lin Ma, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, offers a creative and environmentally friendly solution. Published in Chemistry of Materials, the research describes how Dr. Ma’s team, which included lead author Vadim Shipitsyn, developed a technique to improve one of the most important parts of a sodium-ion battery: the cathode—the part that stores and releases energy during each charge and discharge cycle.
“This is an exciting step forward in making sodium-ion batteries more practical,” said Dr. Ma. “By simplifying the way we modify the cathode, we’re opening the door to greener, cheaper and more scalable energy solutions.”
Read the story on the APS website: https://bit.ly/4meQXcv
by Dave DeFusco
June 2, 2025 | Dr. Lin Ma: "Rising Star in Sustainable Energy Storage to Join APS Faculty in July"
When Lin Ma, Ph.D. joins the Department of Applied Physical Sciences as an assistant professor in July, he will bring with him not just a global resume of elite research experiences, but a bold vision for the future of clean energy. A rising star in batterychemistry and electrochemical materials, Lin Ma has already authored more than 80 peer-reviewed papers and helped reshape the conversation around energystorage—moving the field from a fixation on performance to a broader mandate of sustainability...
Read about Lin Ma on the APS website: https://bit.ly/4dOJoG0
by Dave DeFusco
June 5-6, 2025 | The 2025 Battery Safety Workshop
The event, hosted by the BATT CAVE at UNC Charlotte, is a crucial forum for advancing the understanding and practice of battery safety. This workshop is particularly significant as North Carolina emerges as a key hub for battery technology, attracting research and manufacturing investments across the battery supply chain.
Read more about the event on the website:
https://battcave.charlotte.edu/2025-battery-safety-workshop/
June, 2025 | "40 under 40"
The Charlotte Business Journal’s annual “40 Under 40 Awards” spotlight the region’s most promising young professionals who are making significant impacts in their fields and communities. Lin Ma, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering and engineering science, was named to Charlotte Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” for his impactful work in UNC Charlotte’’s Battery Complexity, Autonomous Vehicle and Electrification Research Center (BATT CAVE).
Read more about the award on the website:
July 25, 2024 | First multi-disciplinary collaboration in BATT CAVE
Dr. Christopher Bejger, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, teamed with Dr. Lin Ma, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, to successfully achieve the first multi-disciplinary research collaboration by the Battery Complexity, Autonomous Vehicle and Electrification Research Center (BATT CAVE). The pair developed a novel sustainable electrolyte material to improve the lifetime of sodium ion batteries, and published the research in Nano Energy.
Learn more about Bejger’s and Ma’s research
June 6-7, 2024 | North Carolina Battery Technology Workshop 2024
North Carolina emerges as a frontrunner in advancing battery research, material processing, and end-to-end manufacturing. To foster collaborations between industry and academia, the BATT CAVE at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, introduces the inaugural North Carolina Battery Technology Workshop (NCBTW).
Read more about the event on the website:
https://battcave.charlotte.edu/battery-technology-workshop-2024/
May, 2024 | Dr. Lin Ma receives ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award
The annual grants are made through the organization's Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards program that provides funds to enrich the research and professional growth of young faculty.
The awards recognize faculty members for their work in any of five science and technology disciplines: engineering and applied science; life sciences; mathematics and computer science; physical sciences; and policy, management or education.
February 13, 2024 | BATT CAVE Electrifying Experts: Lin Ma
“My group explores sustainable battery technology, especially at the material level,” said Lin Ma, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. “This technology has been successful in cell phones and electric vehicles; the results, however, are limited.”
Read more about Lin Ma on the BattCave website:
https://features.charlotte.edu/electrifying-innovation-lin-ma/
July, 2023 | Dr. Lin Ma—Winner of the Batteries 2022 Young Investigator Award
Dr. Ma received his PhD in 2019 and has an outstanding publication record, comprising more than 60 publications in peer-reviewed international journals and 6 international patents. He has made several important findings in the design of new electrode and electrolyte materials used for battery production and in the development of novel methodologies used for battery performance analysis. He is clearly a rising star in the field of battery research. As a single applicant, Dr. Ma has more than 3 applications are at pending status(> USD1M, NSF, DOE). This is an outstanding achievement in today’s competitive environment. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Lin Ma for his outstanding achievements.
Read an interview with Dr. Lin Ma on the website:
August 30, 2017 | 2017 Battery Division Student Award Goes to Lin Ma!
Each year, the ECS Battery Division recognizes achievement with four awards including its Student Research Award which was established in 1979 to recognize promising young engineers and scientists in the field of electrochemical power sources.
Read more on the ECS website:
https://www.electrochem.org/ecsnews/2017-battery-division-student-award-goes-lin-ma
