Welcome to Sa's Research Group at UMass!
Our research is broadly focused in the area of analytical chemistry, electrochemistry and surface chemistry. Driving our fundamental research interest is to connect fundamental understanding of the interfacial reaction with materials that have potentials to be applied for designing the next generation energy storage devices. Such research addresses a grand challenge in electrochemistry linking interfacial properties, surface structure, topography and exposure conditions at the material interfaces.
Why are we interested performing such research? Worldwide growing energy demands the pursuit of sustainable energy alternatives for both renewable energy sources and sustainable storage technologies. The new concept of designing energy storage devices, such as rechargeable ion batteries, constitutes the essential components in the shift from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EV), moreover, it is by far the lowest cost technique to enable usage of renewable energy on grid storage. The state of the art lithium ion battery (LIB) gained significant attention as the primary energy storage device, but suffers by its limited energy density and high cost. Sustainability and the growing demands for EVs require scientists to look forward to develop next generation devices that offer a higher energy density, at a lower cost, and with extended cycle life.
Selected Articles
Fan, S.; Asselin, G.; Pan, B.; Wang, H.; Ren, Y.; Vaughey, J.; Sa, N.*; A Simple Halogen-Free Magnesium Electrolyte Design for Reversible Magenesium Deposition through Cosolvent Assistance. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2020, 12(9), 10252-10260 (Editor’s Choice and Highlighted as the Journal Cover Story).
Sa, N.*; Mukherjee, A.; Han, B.; Ren, Y.; Klie, R., Key, B.; Vaughey, J.*; Direct Observation of MgO formation at cathode Electrolyte Interface of a Spinel MgCo2O4 Cathode Upon Electrochemical Mg Removal and Insertion. J. Power. Sources, 2019, 424, 68-75
Wustrow, A.; Key, B.; Phillips, P.; Sa, N.; Lipton, A.; Klie, R.; Vaughey, J.; Poeppelmeier, K.; Synthesis and Characterization of MgCr2S4 Thiospinel as a Potential Magnesium Cathode. Inorg. Chem. 2018, 57(14), 8634-8638
Mukherjee, A.; Sa, N.; Phillips P.; Burrell A.; Vaughey J.; Klie, R., Direct Investigation of Mg Intercalation into orthorhombic V2O5 cathode using atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy. Chem. Mater. 2017, 29(5), 2218-2226
Sa, N.; Rajput, N.; Wang, H.; Baris, K.; Persson, K.; Burrell, A.; Vaughey, J., A Concentration Dependent Study of a Conventional Magnesium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide Diglyme Electrolyte, RSC. Advances, 2016, 6, 113663-113670
Sa, N.; Pan, B.; Saha, A.; Hubaud, A.; Vaughey, J.; Baker, L.; Burrell, A., Role of Chloride for a Simple, Non-Grignard Mg Electrolyte in Ether Based Solvents. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2016, 8(25), 16002-16008
Pan, B.; Huang, J.; Sa, N.; Brombosz, S.; Vaughey, J.; Zhang, L.; Burrell, A.; Zhang, Z.; Liao, C., MgCl2-the one to rule all chloride containing electrolytes for rechargeable magnesium-ion batteries, J. Electrochem. Soc., 2016, 163(8), A1672-A1677
Sa, N.; Kinnibrugh, T.; Wang, H,; Gautam, G.; Chapman, K.; Vaughey, J.; Key, B.; Fister, T.; Freeland, J.; Proffit, D.; Chupas, P.; Ceder, G.; Burrell, A., Structural Evolution of Reversible Mg Insertion into a Bilayer Structure of V2O5·nH2O Xerogel Material. Chem. Mater, 2016, 28(9), 2962-2969
Sa, N.; Wang, H,; Proffit, D.; Lipson, A.; Key, B.; Liu, M.; Feng, Z.; Fister, T.; Ren, Y.; Sun, C.; Vaughey, J.; Fenter, P; Persson, K.; Burrell, A., Is Alpha-V2O5 a Cathode Material for Mg Insertion Batteries? J. Power. Sources, 2016, 323, 44-50