Elena Orlova

Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) laboratory. HAADF- and ABF- STEM, selected area electron diffraction, and electron diffraction tomography. Licensed to operate FEI Tecnai G2 F20, FEI Tecnai Osiris S/TEM, Titan Themis Z G3 Cs-Corrected S/TEM

Nanochemistry Research Group. I was involved in the research on the iron phosphide nanoparticles as promising platinum-group-metal-free catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction, which can be used in water electrolysis.

Laboratory of Synthesis of functional materials and mineral processing laboratory. The production of titanium dioxide particles with a specific shape and morphology by hydrothermal synthesis for further application. as cosmetic pigments

Laboratory of Inorganic Material Science. Developed process of catalytic oxidation of methane based on noble metals.

The topic of my PhD Thesis is "High-energy-density cathode materials for Li-ion batteries based on modified layered transition metal oxides Ni-rich NMC" The purpose of my PhD research is to develop modified high-energy-density cathode materials based on Ni-rich NMCs, which simultaneously have increased capacity, cycling life, and rate capability, using stabilizing cationic doping and modifying grain boundaries with solid electrolytes based on Li-conducting salts. For that, the co-precipitation method, widely used in the commercial production of NMCs, which does not require additional operational steps to introduce modifying additives, and characterization (XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, galvanostatic cycling, cycling voltammetry, and impedance spectroscopy) techniques will be applied.

My research during my Master program was dedicated to high-energy-density layered transition metal oxides as cathode material in Li-ion batteries, in particular, Ni-rich and Li-rich NMCs. I mastered the synthesis of high-energy density complex oxides Ni-rich NMCs, with atomic-level homogeneous distribution of Ni, Co and Mn through a computer-controlled coprecipitation technique, and elaborated conventional and microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Li-rich NMCs. Besides, I performed a systematic screening of the structural parameters and defect concentration, estimated by XRD pattern and transmission electron microscopy analysis, with respect to electrochemical capacity and its retention with cycling.

During the first three years, I was studying the process of catalytic oxidation of methane based on noble metals (Pt, Pd, Ir, and Rh). The results of my work were described in the patent and scientific paper and presented in six oral reports at conferences. Besides, this project was supported by the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in Science and Technology, “UMNIK” program. In my last year of the BS program, I was investigating the synthesis and properties of spherical TiO2 microparticles for application in cosmetics in collaboration with the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where I had a part-time job as a senior laboratory assistant.