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Strategic Innovations in High-Performance Lithium Batteries: Synergistic Approaches to Sustainable Material Recycling, Advanced Interface Engineering, and High-Safety Electrolyte Systems

Jun 8, 2026 | Research

The Battery Research Center of Green Energy (BRCGE) at Ming Chi University of Technology (MCUT) in Taiwan is at the global forefront of energy storage innovation. Under the leadership of Professor Chun-Chen Yang, the center develops high-voltage, high-safety battery technologies through pillars such as synthesizing 5 V LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) from recycled Li2CO3, developing solvent-free, dual-salt solid polymer electrolytes (DS-SPEs) for solid-state batteries, and stabilizing cobalt-free Li-rich (LRNMO) cathodes via LaF3 nano-coatings. The center’s research has expanded to include thermally extruded composite solid electrolytes (TECSEs), Ta-modified Ni-rich NCM92 cathodes, bilayer hybrid solid electrolytes (Bi-HSEs) with modified Li anodes, dual-conductive additive NCM811 systems, and multifunctional separators for Li-SPAN batteries.

Figure 1. The Hiden HPR-40 DEMS integrated an electrochemical cell with mass flow meters.

A critical component of this success is the Hiden HPR-40 DEMS. Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry (DEMS) is an analytical technique that combines in–situ electrochemical cell experiments with mass spectrometry. By using the Hiden HPR-40 DEMS setup (as shown in the photograph), researchers unmask chemical processes—such as the evolution of H2, CO2, CO, O2, and sulfur species (H2S, SO2) —in real time to monitor electrolyte decomposition and structural degradation.

Figure 2 (left). In-situ DEMS analyses were conducted using the Hiden HPR-40 DEMS.

Case Studies and Supporting Evidence:

  • Sustainable Cathode & Ta-Modification Stability: Recycled LNMO demonstrated zero detectable O2 evolution at 5.4 V. Similarly, operando (or in–situ) DEMS of Ta-modified Ni-rich NCM92 cathodes showed significantly reduced CO2 and H2 outgassing, proving that the Ta-enriched layer effectively inhibits electrolyte decomposition and surface-side reactions.

Published journals:

  1. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 689 (2025) 137221.
  2. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 661 (2024) 289.
  • Solid-State & Hybrid Safety Validation: For the DS-SPE system, in–situ DEMS confirmed the complete absence of CO2 and O2 evolution during cycling. Regarding thermally extruded TECSE, the HPR-40 verified high stability at the electrode–electrolyte interfaces with no detectable amounts of H2, CO2, or O2 gases during cycling. In Bi-HSE systems with modified Li anodes, DEMS revealed much lower gas intensities (O2, CO, C2H4) than in liquid electrolytes, confirming the protective effect of the g-C3N4/ZIF-8/PVDF coating on the Li anode for all-solid-state Li metal batteries.

Published journals:

  1. Journal of Energy Storage 110 (2025) 115335.
  2. Journal of Energy Storage 136 (2025) 118457.
  3. Journal of Energy Storage 76 (2024) 109757.
  • Suppressing Gas in Li-Rich, Li-SPAN & NCM811 Cathodes: LaF3 coatings effectively suppressed reactive oxygen release in Co-free cathodes. Real-time monitoring of sulfur species (H2S, SO2) confirmed that multifunctional separators effectively suppressed evolution—typically caused by moisture degradation—ensuring interfacial safety. Furthermore, for NCM811 cathodes modified with Li-BTJ oligomer and PDA-VGCF, in-situ DEMS verified zero O2 evolution at high voltage, thereby ensuring superior structural stability and thermal safety compared with bare NCM811 cathodes.

Published journals:

  1. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 707 (2026) 139743.
  2. Small 22 (2026) e13303.
  3. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 16 (2024) 21034.

The Hiden HPR-40 DEMS serves as an indispensable validation engine for MCUT. Providing high-resolution, real-time data on gas dynamics enables researchers to improve the safety and performance of next-generation lithium batteries that will power a sustainable future.

Project Summary by: Yi-De Tsai, Yi-Shiuan Wu, and Chun-Chen Yang, Battery Research Center of Green Energy, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 243303, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Paper References: 

  1. Tsai, Y.-D., Hsu, C.-H., Hu, J.-H., Jose, R. and Yang, C.-C. (2025) ‘High performance of 5 V LiNi5Mn1.5O4 cathode materials synthesized from recycled Li2CO3 for sustainable Lithium-Ion batteries.’ Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. Elsevier BV, 689, March, pp. 137221. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.03.010.

2. Hendri, Y. B., Kuo, L.-Y., Seenivasan, M., Wu, Y.-S., Wu, S.-H., Chang, J.-K., Jose, R., Ihrig, M., Kaghazchi, P. and Yang, C.-C. (2024) ‘Two birds with one stone: One-pot concurrent Ta-doping and -coating on Ni-rich LiNi92Co0.04Mn0.04O2 cathode materials with fiber-type microstructure and Li+-conducting layer formation.’ Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. Elsevier BV, 661, May, pp. 289–306. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.01.094.

3. Ghufira, Wu, Y.-S., Wu, S.-H., Chang, J.-K., Jose, R. and Yang, C.-C. (2025) ‘Solvent-free semi-interpenetrating composite polymer electrolyte based on dual Li-salt for solid-state lithium batteries.’ Journal of Energy Storage. Elsevier BV, 110, February, pp. 115335. DOI: 1016/j.est.2025.115335.

4. Kibret, D. Y., Mengesha, T. H., Walle, K. Z., Wu, Y.-S., Chang, J.-K., Jose, R. and Yang, C.-C. (2025) ‘Stabilizing LATP/Li metal interface via artificial buffer layers on thermally-extruded composite electrolyte for solid-state Li metal batteries.’ Journal of Energy Storage. Elsevier BV, 136, November, pp. 118457. DOI: 1016/j.est.2025.118457.

5. Walle, K. Z., Wu, Y.-S., Wu, S.-H., Chien, W.-C., Chang, J.-K., Jose, R. and Yang, C.-C. (2024) ‘Preparation of g-C3N4/ZIF-8/PVDF–modified Li anode for all-solid-state Li metal batteries.’ Journal of Energy Storage. Elsevier BV, 76, January, pp. 109757. DOI: 1016/j.est.2023.109757.

6. Xu, J.-J., Wu, Y.-S., Hung, T.-F., Chang, J.-K., Ramaraj, S. K., Seenivasan, M. and Yang, C.-C. (2026) ‘Stabilizing Co-free Li-rich cathodes with LaF3 coating and ionic liquid electrolytes: A pathway to high-performance lithium-ion batteries.’ Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. Elsevier BV, 707, April, pp. 139743. DOI: 1016/j.jcis.2025.139743.

7. Anbunathan, A., Wu, Y., Chang, J., Numan, A., Ramaraj, S. K., Jose, R. and Yang, C. (2026) ‘Single‐Crystal NCM‐Enabled Multifunctional Separator Design for High‐Performance Lithium‐SPAN Batteries.’ Small. Wiley, 22(24), March, pp. e13303. DOI: 1002/smll.202513303.

8. Mengesha, T. H., Jeyakumar, J., Hendri, Y. B., Wu, Y.-S., Yang, C.-C., Pham, Q.-T., Chern, C.-S., Brunklaus, G., Winter, M. and Hwang, B. J. (2024) ‘Concerted Effect of Ion- and Electron-Conductive Additives on the Electrochemical and Thermal Performances of the LiNi8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 Cathode Material Synthesized by a Taylor-Flow Reactor for Lithium-Ion Batteries.’ ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. American Chemical Society (ACS), 16(16), April, pp. 21034-21049. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c19386.

Hiden Product: HPR-40 DEMS.