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).
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
EVENTS
Live Presentation at Boston Museum of Science
Presenter: Niya Sa
Title: Chemistry in a Battery
Location: Gordon Current Sci&Tech Center, Blue Wing,
Date: July 27th, 2018, Boston, MA
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256th ACS Meeting
Aug. 19-23, 2018, BOSTON, MA
Please check out the upcoming featured symposium, "Analysis of Materials", of the analytical chemistry session!
link to the ACS symposium: https://acsanalytical.org/analysis-of-materials-for-energy-storage/
