The Institute recently host a seminar, “Seeing the Unseeable: A Neutron and X-Ray Vision into Energy Storage Materials.” Presented by Prof. Kun Qian (錢坤) from Great Bay University as speaker, hosted by Prof. Qing Li.
Prof. Kun Qian is an Assistant Professor from Great Bay University, specializing in applying advanced synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering techniques to study material structures and degradation mechanisms. With over seven years of hands-on experience at world-leading facilities, including the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory and the China Spallation Neutron Source, and with numerous publications in top-tier journals, Prof. Qian brought a wealth of expertise and insight to the seminar.
In his presentation, Prof. Qian masterfully addressed the core challenge of characterizing light elements like lithium in batteries. He detailed how a suite of complementary techniques—including Neutron Depth Profiling (NDP) for lithium mapping, Neutron Powder Diffraction (NPD) for bulk crystal analysis, and the combined use of SANS and SAXS/WAXS for probing nanoscale structures—provides an unparalleled, multi-scale perspective to bridge the critical knowledge gap between material degradation and performance fade.
The seminar concluded with a vibrant and interactive discussion session. Our students and researchers actively engaged with Prof. Qian, exploring the nuances and future applications of these powerful characterization methods. The event served as an excellent platform for deep academic exchange, leaving the audience with a heightened appreciation for the role of large-scale facilities in advancing energy storage technology.
