S&E Summer Research Bursary: Student Experience - Applied Physics

During secondary school I found my love for the language of mathematics. I remember how amazed I was learning about how the simple equations of motion can so seamlessly describe the world around us. Since then, studying math, physics and chemistry has lit a fire within me.

Physics is how we describe the universe and allows us to see how our world works. It equips us to answer the questions we have about time, space, nature, and ourselves. While physics can seem abstract at times, solving seemly random problems. Solving these problems enables us to make the world a better place. From renewable energy to medical devices, physics is everywhere in our day to day lives.

Applied Physics at UL allows me to combine my favourite subjects. With maths, chemistry and of course physics being core pieces of the syllabus. This course has only deepened my love of physics and I believe it will give me the tools to make a difference in the world.

During my time at UL, I have made great connections with my lecturers and various PhD students in the physics department. Learning about their research interests and studies has really inspired me to follow in their footsteps and start a research career of my own.

I met Michela Ottaviani in my third college semester, and she has been one of my influential lecturers ever since. Her lectures are interesting and her role as a woman in STEM I think is important for college students to see.  Working with Michela is an opportunity I couldn’t possibly let up on. The Bernal Institute at UL has such amazing facilities that I knew that working in one of the labs for the summer would give me a real taste of what academic life entails.

After two years in my course, I know I am more equipped than ever to participate in research as I have furthered my knowledge and appreciation of physics, and my desire to learn is more profound than ever.

My project intends to mesh Michela’s interest in the application of nanotechnology in batteries and my interest in exploring the characteristics of the material.

I am working on the Lithium-ion battery this summer, which is a secondary cell, meaning it is rechargeable and hence lasts up to three years (approx. 1000 cycles) and has a charge/discharge efficiency of 80-90%.

A battery is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy, by means of a redox reaction. The energy can then be stored chemically in the battery.

A lithium-ion battery uses the reversible reduction of lithium ions to store energy. The Li ions are small enough to be able to move through the micro-permeable separator between the anode and cathode. The most common combination of electrodes is lithium cobalt oxide as the cathode and graphite as the anode.

However, with the demand for faster charging and longer-lasting electric vehicles (EVs) on the rise, the usual existing graphite-based anode is being left behind for composite Si-graphite anodes to increase the energy density.

Silicon is a remarkable candidate for high energy density LIBs. However there are problems with silicon. Due to its large volume expansion, during the lithiation and de-lithiation process is limiting the commercialization of the pure Si-based anodes for LIBs. In addition, there are numerous effective synthetic methods in the literature for growing Si-graphite anodes, but the scale-up of the synthesis remains a major challenge. In this project, we will develop an easy, effective, and scalable synthesis technique, solvent vapour growth (SVG), for the growth of Si NWs directly from graphite flakes. Moreover, the Si content will be increased up to 20%.

The aim is to optimize the lithium-ion battery with a composite Si-graphite anode which if successful would be revolutionary to the electric vehicle industry and beyond. This research could be one of the key steps in making electric vehicles accessible to everyone and I am so happy to be a part of that.

I have been lucky enough to work under not just my amazing supervisors, but PhD students such as Aaron Hennessy who has thought me so much. I have been able to work in a real post-graduate lab. This has allowed me to get my experimental practice up to scratch to a level way above that of an undergraduate.

I have learned skills particular to my chosen research topic. Such as the synthesis methods of nanomaterials and applying the synthesized material in a real battery and testing the electrochemical stability of the cell. I would have never imagined myself being able to construct a working battery cell, but now I can! The experience of seeing something that you made work is unimaginable.

I have also been exposed to skills that will be more than useful in my degree and further career, such as reading scientific articles, using MATLAB and the analysis of various forms of data.

Possibly the most useful thing I’ve gained during this experience is seeing into the life of PhD students and other academics. I’ve seen how to present fantastic and engaging presentations from the weekly group meetings and how to overcome roadblocks in research when faced with them. It isn’t easy to get back up every day and continue to work while receiving negative results. From Aaron and the rest of the team I have been thought persistence and dedication. Which I’m sure will prove indispensable in not just my future career but in my life in general

This experience has thought me a myriad of things, too many to list in this short interview. My eyes have been opened to a new world that goes on within my own university. The highs and the lows of research, the life that could be mine. I have learned persistence and problem-solving skills.

I learned how to talk about myself and my interests and how to interact with other people in the academic field. I was able to see my own strength and weaknesses. I have been faced with challenges that I have never experienced in my undergraduate degree. I’m asked questions that I don’t know the answers to and instead of being assigned a book to read or given a lecture on the topic, I must figure it out for myself. While this was new and frustrating at times, I know the process of designing my own experiments and discovering my own answers to questions will stand to me during my degree and future career path.

I would recommend this opportunity to every undergrad STEM student. I have met so many wonderful people and gained knowledge that is impossible to obtain while in a classroom. While yes, it can be difficult at times walking into a room where you are the least experienced person in the field, I was welcomed with open arms. And my summer spent on research in UL is something I will never forget.

Well, my first plan of course is to finish my degrees with the best grade possible. After that, I am unsure of what exact area of research I want to delve into, but I know that further study is for me

The possibility of me having my name on a discovery of my own, which could help people and our world is mind-boggling thought. From my time spent at UL this summer, I know that a job as a researcher can be tough, but seeing the passion and determination of the research students and staff is incredibly motivating.

I cannot wait to continue to discover more of the world of physics during the remainder of my degree and after to hopefully embark on my own PhD. This experience has shown me how exciting the future in front of me is and I cannot wait to make the most of it!