Library · Materials, chemistry & fabrication
What Electrochemical Deposition & Synthesis got wrong, from 63 theses
Summary written by a model from the records below: The records evaluate various electrochemical deposition, physical vapor deposition, and solution coating techniques across energy storage, catalytic, and sensing devices. Many attempts failed or were rejected due to poor adhesion, phase impurities, uncontrollable dendrite propagation, parasitic dissolution, and non-uniform film deposition. These records come from graduate theses, 2021 to 2025, each labeled with its degree where the repository states it, and each links to its thesis. They were extracted by language models reading the full text, so treat each as a lead to read, not a verdict.
Plus 10 problems the authors left open, listed at the end.
Failure modes, by theses reporting them
Select a mode to jump to its records.
Solution casting and printing methods suffer from thickness non-uniformity and batch-to-batch variability
Manual dispensing, drop casting, and spraying frequently produce discontinuous films, pinholes, or severe batch variation compared to more controlled deposition methods. Substrate heterogeneity and bleeding into porous supports further impair electrochemical properties and cause variable particle packing.
Tried and failed
slurry casting random porous thick electrodes applied to thick battery electrodes. Reason: severe concentration polarization and rapid capacity decay at moderate to high discharge rates
Hierarchical porous architecture design in battery electrodes for scalable high-energy battery systems · UT Austin · PhD
Lost to a baseline
At low coverage (~5-7%), solution assembly (SA) GO deposition achieved lower overpotentials/higher current density than Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposition due to more uniform flake dispersion.
Interfacial Chemistry in Bipolar Membrane-Containing Redox Flow Battery Systems · Penn · PhD
Lost to a baseline
Spray-coating GO catalyst deposition yielded poorer run-to-run replicability and passed more co-ion leakage current (lower permselectivity) compared to highly oriented Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and solution adsorption (SA) deposition methods.
Interfacial Chemistry in Bipolar Membrane-Containing Redox Flow Battery Systems · Penn · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected drop-casting or dry-casting electrodes onto operando XRD Be-windows due to platelet preferred orientation causing severe tortuosity and zero porosity; used free-standing slurry cast electrodes.
Deciphering the degradation mechanisms of layered oxide cathodes for sodium-ion batteries · UT Austin · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Electrochemical deposition of platinum was rejected in favor of electroless deposition due to substantially lower nanoparticle coverage (2.04% vs 67.30% Pt mass)
Rapid and low-cost sensors based on nanostructured carbon materials for health and agricultural applications · Iowa State · PhD
Tried and failed
pulsed laser deposition at low pulse energy applied to oxide thin film deposition. Reason: insufficient laser fluence caused non-uniform island growth rather than continuous layer-by-layer film growth
Epitaxial Strain of Rare-Earth Nickelates on STO Using Pulsed Laser Deposition · UT Austin
Tried and failed
metal-organic decomposition ink without film-forming additives applied to conductive electrode deposition. Outcome: unstable. Reason: leads to variable formation of highly porous regions and discontinuous line morphology
Photoluminescence and stability of perovskite-phase CsPbI₃ nanocrystals and development of nickel metal-organic decomposition inks · UT Austin · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected single-spot electrospray deposition for ensemble X-ray spectroscopy due to extreme non-uniform coverage and spatial concentration gradients, adopting multi-spot raster deposition
Topographical and chemical characterisation of temperature controlled on-surface reactions · Nottingham · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected electrodeposition of NiO onto ITO-PET due to high sheet resistance (30 Ω/sq) and surface heterogeneity causing non-uniformity, choosing chemical bath deposition instead.
Reversible Metal Electrodeposition and Ion Intercalation for Dynamic Windows · University of Nevada, Reno · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected electrodeposition using Ti precursors instead of EPD because it frequently resulted in less porous coatings with variable particle sizes after sintering.
Improvements of electrochemical water splitting efficiency by using economically viable Co/CoPs/TiO₂/NiF electrocatalysts · Cranfield · Doctorate
Tried and failed
manual dispensing and drop-casting of conductive inks applied to fabricating electrochemical sensors on flexible substrates. Outcome: unstable. Reason: produced uneven, non-reproducible electrode films with polymer ink bleeding into porous substrates
Plant-on-a-chip: monitoring chemical responses in living plants with printed sensors · Imperial · PhD
Lost to a baseline
Single-droplet deposition resulted in high batch-to-batch resistance variation (RSD up to 142%) compared to multi-droplet arrays.
Noble Metal-Based Nanocomposites and Their Bioapplications · University of Nevada, Reno · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected in-house wax-printed screen-printed electrodes in favor of commercial DropSens DRP-710 electrodes due to unresolvable fabrication variability.
Integrated electrochemical device to screen for liver function at the point-of-care · Boston University · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected immersion-based physical coating due to poor reproducibility and uncontrolled deposition.
Evaluation and performance of chitosan and chitosan-graphene oxide coated UF membranes for drinking water treatment · Imperial · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected carbon paper supports for Bi electrodeposition because BiOBr grew discretely on carbon fibers rather than forming a homogeneous film, yielding poor ECR selectivity (45.4% FE).
Rational Design of Electrocatalytic Materials for Stable and Selective CO2 Reduction · Queen's University · PhD
Uncontrolled deposition parameters cause compositional divergence and unwanted secondary phases
Sputtering, evaporation, and co-electrodeposition often result in target element loss, unexpected phase separation, or incomplete alloy transformation. Insufficient volatile component compensation or lack of complexing ligands promotes the formation of parasitic oxides, intermetallics, and unreactive crystalline phases.
Tried and failed
electrochemical dealloying of metal foil anodes applied to tin foil electrodes. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: reformed pure phase surface layer trapped unreacted core phases due to poor solid-state diffusivity
Investigating Reaction Mechanisms of Next-Generation Active Materials for Low-Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
pulsed co-electrodeposition without coordinating ligands applied to bimetallic catalyst synthesis. Outcome: unstable. Reason: loss of active transition metal ions due to insoluble precipitate formation and uncontrolled oxidation
Selective Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia over Cobalt-based Catalysts · Queen's University · Master's
Tried and failed
thermal oxidation without electrochemical pre-reduction applied to electrocatalytic nitrate reduction. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: poor electrical conductivity and weak reactant binding from high-temperature oxide phases
Selective Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia over Cobalt-based Catalysts · Queen's University · Master's
Tried and failed
chemical vapour deposition of transition metal catalysts applied to photoelectrode surface functionalisation. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: produced mixed amorphous oxide/hydroxide phases instead of the active pure oxyhydroxide phase obtained via solution methods
Photoelectrochemical water splitting devices: energy balance analysis, device modelling, and photoelectrode fabrication · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
sequential reactive and non-reactive sputter deposition applied to thin-film oxide synthesis. Reason: produced heterogeneous phase separation and lattice relaxation rather than homogeneous crystallized smooth films
Intercalation-Based Memristors for Temporal Computation and Neuromorphic Architectures · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
sequential reactive sputtering without target cleaning applied to thin film deposition. Outcome: unstable. Reason: residual target surface nitridation caused unpredictable, elevated dopant incorporation in subsequent runs
EFFECT OF NITROGEN ON THE STABILITY AND THERMOMECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE β PHASE IN TUNGSTEN THIN FILMS · Cornell · PhD
Tried and failed
direct potentiostatic electrodeposition applied to metal selenide thin film deposition. Reason: produced isolated amorphous elemental selenium particles rather than a uniform nickel selenide film
Practical understanding of oxygen evolution electrocatalysis in alkaline electrolyte · UT Austin · PhD
Tried and failed
chemical solution deposition with standard stoichiometric excess applied to lead-based perovskite thin film synthesis. Reason: insufficient volatile component compensation caused secondary oxide phase formation and high dielectric loss
Electric-Field-Induced Phase Transitions in Antiferroelectric PbZrO3 Thin Films · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
remote epitaxy through multilayer 2D interlayers applied to metal electrodeposition on substrates. Outcome: no signal. Reason: interlayer thickness screened substrate potential field, resulting in randomly oriented polycrystalline deposits
Understanding Atomic Interactions through Layered Materials during Metal Electrodeposition · Georgia Tech · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Magnetron sputtering was rejected for depositing composite/antiperovskite thin films and restricted to metallic electrodes due to noticeable compositional deviation from target stoichiometry.
Piezomagnetic devices based on antiperovskite nitride thin films · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
potentiostatic template electrodeposition applied to alloy nanowire synthesis. Outcome: unstable. Reason: current spikes caused working electrode deformation and poor iron incorporation, preventing magnetic response
Gold-iron nanowires for magneto-mechanical and radiation therapy of glioblastoma multiforme · Imperial · Doctorate
Tried and failed
multi-step sputter deposition with intermediate thermal cycling applied to thick oxide thin films. Outcome: unstable. Reason: thermal cycling induced mechanical cracking, phase segregation, and loss of epitaxial crystallinity
Orientation and polarization control of BaTiO₃ films for applications in Si-integrated photonics · UT Austin · PhD
Tried and failed
high temperature deposition of multilayer nanolaminates applied to metal-ceramic layered thin films. Outcome: unstable. Reason: interlayer elemental out-diffusion at elevated temperatures caused unwanted intermetallic phase formation and layer discontinuity
Metal/MAX phase multilayered nanolaminates for tunable strength and toughness: Synthesis, microstructure, and mechanical properties · Iowa State · PhD
High deposition rates and thermal stresses cause film delamination and poor interfacial adhesion
Deposited films, catalyst layers, and coatings peel or detach mechanically under high current densities, gas evolution, or wide potential cycling. Insufficient binder content, thermal mismatch, or excessive layer thickness further accelerate cracking and catastrophic adhesion loss.
Tried and failed
extended cathodic electrodeposition duration applied to electrocatalyst films on porous substrates. Outcome: unstable. Reason: excessive deposition time caused film delamination and peeling during synthesis and electrochemical testing
Improvements of electrochemical water splitting efficiency by using economically viable Co/CoPs/TiO₂/NiF electrocatalysts · Cranfield · Doctorate
Tried and failed
cathodic electrodeposition at high current density applied to protective coating deposition on alloy substrates. Outcome: unstable. Reason: High current density caused poor nucleation, film discontinuity, and detachment of deposited cluster layers
Protection of magnesium alloys from corrosion using magnesium rich surfaces. · Cranfield · PhD
Tried and failed
thin metallic film as bottom electrode applied to solid-state electrochemical devices. Outcome: unstable. Reason: thicker films cracked and delaminated during hydriding while ultra-thin films dewetted during high-temperature deposition
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected low binder content (<10 wt.%) for thick cathodes as it caused the electrodes to crumble easily during handling and resulted in peeling/delamination from the current collector (~5 wt.%).
Study of Bi-layer electrodes for lithium-ion batteries through simulation and experiment · Imperial · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected using a patterned 350 nm thick AlN insulation layer under the DEP electrodes because of inadequate metal adhesion leading to delamination.
Resonant MEMS sensors for real-time oil condition monitoring · TU Wien · PhD
Tried and failed
drop-casting catalyst ink onto metal substrates applied to gas-evolving electrocatalytic electrodes. Outcome: unstable. Reason: catalyst layer delaminated from the substrate due to mechanical stress from evolving gas bubbles
REALIZING SELECTIVE ELECTROCHEMICAL CO2 AND N2 REDUCTION BY INTERFACIAL ENGINEERING AND RATIONAL CATALYST DESIGN · Johns Hopkins · PhD
Lost to a baseline
CuAg catalyst prepared by electrodeposition (CuAgdep/Cu) exhibited faster activity degradation (-0.146 vs -0.044 degradation rate slope) and physical detachment compared to galvanically prepared CuAgglv/Cu.
Profitable and sustainable use of biomass in developing technologies · Iowa State · PhD
Tried and failed
electron-beam physical vapor deposition metal lift-off applied to patterning metals on topographic microelectrode arrays. Outcome: unstable. Reason: directional deposition caused poor sidewall coverage and thermal stress led to film peel-off
Multimodal And Multifunctional CMOS Cellular Sensing And Actuating Array With Enhanced Electronics-Biology Interface · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
electrochemical deposition via wide potential sweeping applied to noble metal on transition metal oxide. Outcome: unstable. Reason: wide potential sweeping caused deposited nanoparticles to peel and strip off the support
Sub-Stoichiometric Titania as a Viable Support for Pt Electrodes · Georgia Tech · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Abandoned e-beam evaporation for Pt electrode deposition in favor of sputter deposition to resolve poor adhesion issues
The impact of mass transport and surface charging on the performance of field effect transistor biosensors · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
sacrificial metal dual-working-electrode anodic electrodeposition applied to conductive metal-organic framework thin films. Outcome: unstable. Reason: rapid oxidation produced large detached crystals rather than coherent thin films on the substrate
Synthesis and characterisation of conductive metal-organic framework materials · Oxford · PhD
Metal electrodeposition forms uncontrolled dendrites that lead to cell short circuits
Direct metal plating on unfunctionalized current collectors or under high overpotentials produces porous morphologies and aggressive dendritic growth. These irregular deposits trigger severe capacity decay, high stripping overpotentials, and premature short circuits through separators or adjacent electrodes.
Tried and failed
bare metal substrate for electrodeposition applied to anode-free solid and liquid batteries. Outcome: unstable. Reason: non-uniform deposition and contact loss voiding during stripping caused rapid short circuits within five cycles
Investigating the Interfacial Evolution of Lithium Metal in Anode-Free Batteries with Liquid and Solid-State Electrolytes · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
unprotected metal electrodeposition without interfacial coatings applied to zinc metal battery anodes. Outcome: unstable. Reason: parasitic hydrogen evolution, uncontrolled passivation byproduct accumulation, and dendrite-induced short circuits
UNDERSTANDING AND DESIGNING INTERPHASE IN ZINC AND LITHIUM ANODES · Cornell · PhD
Tried and failed
high current density fast-charging electrodeposition applied to metal and alloy anodes. Outcome: unstable. Reason: severe dendrite formation and low coulombic efficiency at high current densities
UNDERSTANDING AND DESIGNING INTERPHASE IN ZINC AND LITHIUM ANODES · Cornell · PhD
Tried and failed
front-side nucleophilic coating on porous substrate applied to metal anode electrodeposition. Outcome: unstable. Reason: guided deposition toward separator rather than rear, causing aggressive short-circuiting dendrite growth
SUPPRESSING PHYSICOCHEMICAL INSTABILITIES AT ELECTROCHEMICAL INTERFACES——TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE BATTERY ELECTRODES · Cornell · PhD
Tried and failed
low current density electrodeposition applied to zinc metal anodes. Outcome: unstable. Reason: random crystallographic orientation and dendritic growth caused early cell short-circuits
Investigation on Electrodeposition of Metals and Alloys with Advanced Characterizations · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
high overpotential electrochemical additive manufacturing applied to localized metal electrodeposition. Outcome: unstable. Reason: ion diffusion depletion and water electrolysis caused severe dendritic and porous morphology
Electrochemical metal 3D printing · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
direct electrodeposition onto bare current collectors applied to alkali metal anode plating. Outcome: unstable. Reason: rough, porous initial deposition caused extreme stripping overpotentials approaching 4 V
Understanding the intrinsic structure and composition of sodium battery interfaces using cryo-focused ion beam milling and cryo-electron microscopy · UT Austin · PhD
Tried and failed
metal electrodeposition onto semiconductor nanowire arrays applied to generator-collector electrode fabrication. Reason: conductive leakage pathway formed between the substrate and metallic layer causing electrical shorting
Electrochemical CO2 Reduction with Well-Defined Electrodes · Harvard · PhD
Tried and failed
feedback-controlled electrochemical deposition for nanogap fabrication applied to dual-barrel tunneling probe fabrication. Outcome: unstable. Reason: unstable current or lack of gap voltage decrease during electrodeposition
Quantum mechanical tunnelling probe for next-generation single molecule sensor · Imperial · PhD
Electrolyte incompatibility and applied bias trigger premature substrate dissolution and corrosion
Working electrodes, sacrificial layers, and underlying catalysts frequently dissolve into aggressive acidic baths, molten salts, or deep eutectic solvents during electrodeposition. Uncontrolled anodic bias or local field enhancement accelerates parasitic substrate oxidation instead of yielding stable target films.
Tried and failed
electrochemical delamination with metal sacrificial layer applied to 2D material transfer from metal substrate. Outcome: unstable. Reason: the thin aluminium layer prematurely dissolved in the electrolyte under the applied electrochemical bias
Synthesis and Applications of Large-Area Monolayer Graphene · MIT · PhD
Tried and failed
electrophoretic deposition on metal nanowires applied to graphene oxide coating on silver nanowires. Outcome: unstable. Reason: applied positive bias caused the metal nanowires on the electrode to undergo anodic dissolution
Development of Solution-Processed Stable Silver Nanowire Networks for Transparent Electrodes · MIT · PhD
Tried and failed
electrodeposition of metal oxide overlayers applied to acidic oxygen evolution reaction catalysts. Outcome: unstable. Reason: underlying catalyst layer underwent rapid dissolution in acidic electrolyte
A Journey to the Center of the Earth Abundant Metal Oxide Catalysts · Harvard · PhD
Tried and failed
metal electroplating of graphite electrodes applied to molten salt electrosynthesis. Outcome: unstable. Reason: metal coatings dissolved into the high-temperature melt without providing catalytic enhancement over bare graphite
Towards Sustainable Electrosynthesis of Industrially Valuable Small Molecules · MIT · PhD
Tried and failed
electrodeposition using reactive metal working electrodes applied to metal recovery in deep eutectic solvents. Outcome: unstable. Reason: parasitic substrate oxidation and electrode dissolution interfered with the target electrodeposition process
Toward lead recovery from lead waste acid batteries by deep eutectic solvents · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
electrodeposition of gold coatings applied to copper substrate redox electrodes. Outcome: unstable. Reason: diffuse coating caused poor electrolyte wetting, irreversible redox kinetics, and rapid substrate corrosion
Conceptualization, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, and Prototyping of Continuous Electrochemical Refrigeration · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
chemical vapor deposition without electric field bias applied to nanotube growth on carbon fibers. Reason: insufficient potential difference allowed catalyst etching of the substrate leading to pitting and sporadic growth
Continuous production of carbon nanotube-grafted fibres: a route to manufacture hierarchical composites · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
electrochemical anodization at high voltage and fluoride applied to metal foam electrode morphologic engineering. Outcome: unstable. Reason: local field-accelerated dissolution caused non-uniform localized spots and cracking
Practical understanding of oxygen evolution electrocatalysis in alkaline electrolyte · UT Austin · PhD
Undesired parasitic reactions cause catalyst poisoning and electrolyte degradation
In the absence of proper buffering or inert electrode materials, competitive processes like water splitting and solution basification degrade electrosynthetic yields. Metal catalysts also suffer from surface fouling, rapid passivation, and uncontrolled polymer precipitation away from the target electrode interface.
Tried and failed
omitting buffer in electrochemical oxidation applied to electrochemical alkene difunctionalization. Outcome: unstable. Reason: solution basification caused catalyst degradation and lower yields
DEVELOPING TRANSITION-METAL-CATALYZED DIFUNCTIONALIZATION AND HYDROFUNCTIONALIZATION METHODOLOGIES OF C=C BONDS · Cornell · PhD
Tried and failed
platinum microelectrodes for prolonged potential holds applied to organic redox electrolyte electrochemical characterization. Outcome: unstable. Reason: platinum suffered surface area loss and electrode fouling during prolonged potential holds unlike gold
Rational design strategies for redox flow batteries · MIT · PhD
Tried and failed
electrochemical decomposition on noble metal catalysts applied to ammonium formate decomposition. Outcome: unstable. Reason: catalyst poisoning and voltage instability over time
Kinetic and Thermodynamic Aspects of Voltage as a Driving Force for Ammonia Activation · MIT · PhD
Tried and failed
electrochemical promotion at high anodic potentials applied to heterogeneous catalytic alcohol dehydration. Reason: catalytic rate plateaued with no further enhancement beyond the critical potential threshold
Promotion of Heterogeneous Acid and Base Catalysts for Biomass Upgrading · MIT · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Graphite screen-printed electrodes were selected over platinum alternatives because platinum catalyzes water electrolysis, causing unwanted hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions.
Cyclic Voltammetry for Accurate Icing Detection on Simulated Aircraft Surfaces · Carleton University · Master's
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected direct electrodeposition of porous Au foam due to high catalytic hydrogen evolution activity on deposited Au; substituted with galvanic replacement of NiSn sacrificial templates in Au bath.
3d Porous High Areal Capacity Lithium-Ion Micro-Batteries · Penn · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected electrochemically initiated chain-growth polymerization because it causes uncontrolled polymer formation and precipitation away from 3D micro-architected surfaces.
Two-component electrochemical coupling reaction for end-group assisted electrodeposition of ultrathin polymer films · Boston University · Master's
Excessive deposition duration results in particle overgrowth and active site agglomeration
Extended deposition times and high electrical charge loads cause nanomaterials to form dense multilayers, lose spatial definition, and oversaturate active catalyst surfaces. These conditions lead to particle aggregation and high precursor waste without providing functional gains over shorter deposition times.
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Drop-casting and spin-coating for gold deposition rejected in favor of chronoamperometric electrodeposition due to particle aggregation and high reagent waste.
Electrochemical Gold Deposition on Conductive Electrode Surfaces Towards Sensing Applications · Queen's University · Master's
Tried and failed
extended duration gas condensation sputter deposition applied to nanoparticle synthesis on substrates. Outcome: unstable. Reason: prolonged deposition caused multilayer formation and particle aggregation on the substrate
Metallic nanocarrier complex targeting neuroendocrine prostate cancel cells. · Cranfield · PhD
Tried and failed
Extended-duration laser-directed photodeposition applied to site-selective cocatalyst patterning on semiconductors. Outcome: unstable. Reason: Prolonged deposition times led to overgrowth, loss of spatial definition, and uncontrolled catalyst morphology
OPERANDO MICROSCOPY FOR MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS INTO COCATALYST-MODIFIED SEMCONDUCTOR PHOTO(ELECTRO)CATALYSIS · Cornell · PhD
Lost to a baseline
Mo1 electrodeposited onto NiO|P1 using a 3-fold higher charge (36 mC) resulted in worse photoelectrocatalytic performance compared to lower charge deposition due to surface oversaturation.
Design and study of organic-inorganic hybrids as photocatalysts for energy and environmental applications · TU Wien · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected drop-casting GO prior to AuNP electrodeposition due to multi-step human error, material waste from thick coating, and inability to coat 3D/tight geometries
Reduced-Graphene-Oxide/ Gold-Nanoparticles Modified Glassy-Carbon-Electrode for the Detection of Adrenaline · University of Nevada, Reno · Master's
Left open by the authors
Problems the authors named and did not get to.
Left open
Develop non-vacuum deposition techniques like dip or suspension coating for sub-micron bilayer electrolyte protection in solid oxide cells. Blocker: Requires a physical materials synthesis and electrochemical wet laboratory.
Enhancing the Stability and Performance of Solid Oxide Cells by Tailoring Surfaces and Interfaces through Surface Modification · Georgia Tech · PhD
Left open
Investigate whether non-uniform lithium deposition improves high-current cycling performance when deposits maintain electronic percolation. Blocker: Requires a wet-lab battery fabrication and electrochemical characterization facility
Quantitative Solid Electrolyte Interphase-Based Descriptors for Lithium Liquid Electrolyte Design · MIT · PhD
Left open
Print SOFC electrodes using electrostatic spray deposition and optimize anode-supported substrates. Blocker: Requires a wet lab, synthesis materials, and physical deposition equipment (e.g., electrostatic spray deposition setup).
Integrated characterization and design of cathode microstructure for high performance solid oxide fuel cells · Imperial · PhD
Left open
Develop design rules for optimal battery anode coating chemistries across use-cases such as fast charging and anode-free systems. Blocker: Requires wet-lab synthesis, material characterization, and electrochemical battery testing.
CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC CONTROL AND INTERFACE DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR SODIUM-BASED SECONDARY BATTERY ANODES · Cornell · PhD
Left open
Optimize ALD coating thickness and alternative chemistries (HfO2, SiO2, ZrO2, TiO2, nitrides) on battery electrodes to improve solid electrolyte wetting. Blocker: Requires atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment, specialized battery materials, and wet-lab physical testing facilities.
Low melting point solid electrolytes for scalable manufacturing of all-solid-state li-ion batteries · Georgia Tech · PhD
Left open
Fabricate dimensionally stable anodes by coating etched titanium mesh with Pd-Pt mixed oxides baked above 400 °C to sustain high current densities. Blocker: Requires wet lab fabrication equipment and electrochemical testing apparatus.
Electrochemical Alkene Epoxidation Using Water as the Oxygen Source · MIT · PhD
Left open
Develop interlayer engineering schemes to accommodate alloy transformation and homogeneously re-form the alloy layer during battery stripping. Blocker: Requires wet-lab battery fabrication, thin-film deposition, and specialized operando/cryo-FIB characterization facilities.
Investigating the Interfacial Evolution of Lithium Metal in Anode-Free Batteries with Liquid and Solid-State Electrolytes · Georgia Tech · PhD
Left open
Design the interface contact between the active material and conductive/binder phases to prevent microscopic detachment and side reactions in battery electrodes. Blocker: Requires wet lab chemical synthesis, battery electrode fabrication, and experimental electrochemical testing.
Hierarchical porous architecture design in battery electrodes for scalable high-energy battery systems · UT Austin · PhD
Left open
Optimize semi-crystalline pPFDA coatings for lithium metal anode protection in aqueous environments. Blocker: Requires wet lab electrochemistry equipment and chemical vapor deposition apparatus (iCVD)
UNDERSTANDING AND DESIGNING INTERPHASE IN ZINC AND LITHIUM ANODES · Cornell · PhD
Left open
Perform comparative electrodeposition using different deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, and aqueous media to evaluate catalyst morphology and crystal structure. Blocker: Requires a physical wet chemistry lab, electrodeposition setup, and characterization equipment (e.g., SEM, XRD)
Improvements of electrochemical water splitting efficiency by using economically viable Co/CoPs/TiO₂/NiF electrocatalysts · Cranfield · Doctorate
Who has worked on this
Authors of the public theses cited on this page, most-cited first.
- Shuo Jin · Cornell · PhD · 2024
UNDERSTANDING AND DESIGNING INTERPHASE IN ZINC AND LITHIUM ANODES - Soorya Dananjaya Bandara Kulathunga Kulathunga Mudiyansele · Cranfield · Doctorate · 2024
Improvements of electrochemical water splitting efficiency by using economically viable Co/CoPs/TiO₂/NiF electrocatalysts - Laura Sofia Quinones-Gomez · Queen's University · Master's · 2025
Selective Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia over Cobalt-based Catalysts - Amy Metlay · Penn · PhD · 2024
Interfacial Chemistry in Bipolar Membrane-Containing Redox Flow Battery Systems - Stephanie E Sandoval · Georgia Tech · PhD · 2023
Investigating the Interfacial Evolution of Lithium Metal in Anode-Free Batteries with Liquid and Solid-State Electrolytes - Zhien (Abigail) Wang · MIT · PhD · 2025
Synthesis and Applications of Large-Area Monolayer Graphene - Bin Zou · Imperial · PhD · 2025
Piezomagnetic devices based on antiperovskite nitride thin films - Yue Zhao · Cornell · PhD · 2025
EFFECT OF NITROGEN ON THE STABILITY AND THERMOMECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE β PHASE IN TUNGSTEN THIN FILMS - Zhiheng Zhao · Cornell · PhD · 2025
OPERANDO MICROSCOPY FOR MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS INTO COCATALYST-MODIFIED SEMCONDUCTOR PHOTO(ELECTRO)CATALYSIS - Michael Peter Clarke · Nottingham · PhD · 2025
Topographical and chemical characterisation of temperature controlled on-surface reactions - Vala Kafil · University of Nevada, Reno · PhD · 2025
Noble Metal-Based Nanocomposites and Their Bioapplications - Behnam Nourmohammadi Khiarak · Queen's University · PhD · 2025
Rational Design of Electrocatalytic Materials for Stable and Selective CO2 Reduction
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