Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0002-0366-8538

Date of Award

12-31-2025

Document Type

Campus Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry/Physical/Analytical Chemistry

First Advisor

Niya Sa

Second Advisor

Neil Reilly

Third Advisor

Michelle Foster

Abstract

Rechargeable multivalent ion batteries represent an exciting new category of energy storage devices poised to achieve low cost alternatives in contrast to the current state-of-the-art lithium ion technologies. Calcium ion batteries (CIB) are of key interest owing to their high theoretical energy density, natural abundance, and low cost. However, the development of rechargeable CIB has been hindered by challenges of calcium ion’s diffusion kinetics and the reactivity of metallic calcium towards conventional non-aqueous electrolytes. To unlock calcium’s potential to provide high voltage and capacity, circumventing the rapid passivation of the calcium metal anode is necessary. This thesis investigates alloy candidates for Ca.

This work is motivated by two primary considerations: (1) Ca alloys create an intermetallic compound that can better facilitates reversible Ca exchange upon charge and discharge on the anode side; (2) the Ca alloy process helps reduce the energy barriers for Ca ion exchange and thus improves the possible stability at the anode. This thesis collectively advances the fundamental understanding of Ca-based alloy systems through detailed investigations of the electrochemical alloying processes in indium and silver materials, identified as promising candidates for calcium-ion storage. The findings reveal key electrochemical and interfacial limitations that are crucial for guiding the rational design and further development of next-generation, high-performance calcium-ion batteries (CIBs).

Comments

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