https://www.fanggroup.org/research daily 0.75 2026-01-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/e0965856-d03c-45ff-98fb-1a0fbfb1ec5c/Picture27879.png Research - In commercial lithium-ion batteries, the lithium-containing cathode provides the capacity, while the graphite anode only serves as a safe host for lithium ions. Eliminating the graphite anode, known as the anode-free lithium metal battery (AFLMB) — opens a pathway to achieving cell-level energy densities of 500 Wh/kg and beyond. Recent innovations in lithium metal batteries are now being recognized as major milestones in both academia and industry, advancing the long-standing goal of practical lithium metal batteries. These breakthroughs will not only double the driving range of electric vehicles, but also enable entirely new technologies that are currently limited by power constraints, such as electrified aircrafts and other high-energy-demand systems. The essence of AFLMB lies in enabling dendrite-free and highly efficient electrochemical cycling of lithium metal, which requires synergistic advancements in electrolyte design (both liquid and solid), deeper fundamental understanding of lithium electrochemical behavior, and system-level integration. Reference: “Key issues hindering a practical lithium-metal battery”, Trends in Chemistry, 2019, 1, 152-158 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/c39888f7-f92d-41bc-adf3-e1135caaeb84/Picture56.png Research - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/3454cd12-9bc5-43bc-b6ba-a15ae46242e0/Screenshot+2025-11-26+160146.jpg Research - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/147ce69f-ea64-42be-bcd2-d3d027c5c49f/Screenshot+2025-11-26+112525.jpg Research - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/1598217942857-XQ3VHI736J0VDU32PJF0/TGC.png Research - Titration Gas Chromatography Inactive or “dead” Li formation is the immediate cause of capacity loss and safety hazards of high-energy lithium metal batteries; it consists of both (electro)chemically formed Li+ compounds in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and electrically isolated unreacted metallic Li. However, quantitatively distinguishing between Li+ in SEI components and the unreacted metallic Li has not been possible due to the lack of effective diagnosis tools. We established a new analytical method, TGC, and accurately quantified the contribution from unreacted metallic Li to the total amount of inactive Li. We identify the unreacted metallic Li, rather than the (electro)chemically formed Li+ in SEI, as the dominant source of inactive Li and capacity loss. Reference: “Quantifying inactive lithium in lithium metal batteries”, Nature, 2019, 572, 511–515 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/1598218029952-GIHVOHO4SQPWYRSD8AU3/TEM.jpg Research - Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy Cryo-TEM is a powerful tool to probe the nanostructures of electrochemcially active materials, such as lithium metal and its SEI. It is impossible to acquire high-resolution images of these materials at room temperature due to their extremely sensitive nature to electron beam. The cryogenic protection minimizes the beam damage to the brittle materials while preserve its intrinsic properties. Reference: “Quantifying inactive lithium in lithium metal batteries”, Nature, 2019, 572, 511–515 Cryo-EM facility at MSU: Center for Advanced Microscopy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/1598243319114-M6A03CBQIAYVZKIREURS/fib.png Research - Cryogenic Focused Ion Beam FIB-SEM images provide the cross-section morphology information of materials. Cryogenic protection is critical because the electrochemically active materials are not only sensitive to electron beam, but also is apt to react with the FIB incident ion beam at room temperature. Taking a series of cross-sectional FIB-SEM images, a 3D structure can be reconstructed, enabling 3D visualization and quantitative structural analysis. Reference: “Pressure-tailored lithium deposition and dissolution in lithium metal batteries”, 2020, under review Cryo-FIB facility at MSU: Composite Materials and Structures Center https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/1598218160839-LYKEA5HUSNQ3MLWLXZ4V/schematic+illustration_600.jpg Research - Surface Modification Graphene oxide/polydopamine-coated Si nanocomposite (GO/PDA-Si) was synthesized by a novel facile solution-based chemical method at room temperature. The surface property of Si nano particles (NPs) was modified by introducing secondary amine groups from PDA, which form amide groups with carboxyl groups and hydrogen bonds with hydroxyl/carboxyl groups on GO. These chemical interactions firmly anchor Si NPs to GO so that aggregation of Si NPs can be mostly prevented. Reference: “Improving the electrochemical performance of Si nanoparticle anode material by synergistic strategies of polydopamine and graphene oxide coating”, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2015, 119 (4), 1720–1728 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/1598218209196-CWLDBJQLC2S0NMF87651/Mo.png Research - Bulk Doping Oxygen-redox reactions in lithium-rich layered oxide cathode materials enable ultra high capacity, but causes voltage decay due to the unwanted oxygen gas formation. We firstly synthesized Li[Li0.2Ni0.2Mn0.6]O2 cathode materials by the modified co-precipitation method. Guided by the ab initio calculations of oxygen vacancy formation energy, we then selectively chose the Co and Mo co-doping into the Li[Li0.2Ni0.2Mn0.6]O2 materials with the aims to facilitate oxygen activity while mitigate the voltage decay. The co-doping design enhances both capacity and cycling stability. Reference: “Modified co-precipitation synthesis of meso-structure controlled Li-rich layered oxides for minimizing voltage degradation”, ACS Applied Energy Materials, 2018, 1, 3369 “Mitigating oxygen release in anionic-redox-active cathode materials by cationic substitution through rational design”, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2018, 6, 24651 https://www.fanggroup.org/publications daily 0.75 2026-02-07 https://www.fanggroup.org/members daily 0.75 2026-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/4615e29d-77f5-4629-93f9-c1c8957d3d08/Robert%2BKuphal.jpeg Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/326364eb-a1f4-4967-91b3-736e5cb3131b/%E5%88%98%E8%8D%86%E6%99%B6%E7%AD%BE%E8%AF%81%E7%85%A72.jpeg Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/4e877510-2c9a-4c91-af00-4c35ff361032/Lexi+Mckee.jpeg Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/56b69f64-1893-4763-9fb5-c065e72709c4/Boling+Li.jpg Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/678d4c72-a286-4bdb-9742-f139feb09e03/Mandouh%2C+Ahmad.jpg Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/e641ae0e-78a7-447f-bf02-ae1c6cf6b9f0/Brenna+Richardson.png Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/2bd3c8f4-576a-490b-863e-b9715cf7a23a/web+page.png Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/fa02d3a4-21bd-4866-9518-23bec5d490e8/Khushi+Pandey.JPG Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/08e373a5-2bf7-4c33-9277-19ba3f03cdb5/IMG_0158.jpg Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/1598213358666-PLOF3SX6RRZFKNXUIW8N/IMG_1795.jpg Members https://www.fanggroup.org/home daily 1.0 2026-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/994c2290-11df-450b-bacd-38730c162fca/2023+summer.jpg Home - Make it stand out Summer 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/c7d2ccc4-a918-4c83-8243-b0d6b844f9c8/original.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/7616c17b-449c-4e0d-9977-2b7b16e439be/1019px-NSF_logo.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/8c077914-a844-45bb-8896-bd9ddbf22c60/Picture23.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/32af17b2-e29c-497d-8b41-20d0e515647c/Picture12.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/0cd7f268-ed4f-4a1a-8dce-fcb8ace8fa88/Ford_logo_flat.svg.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/d6ccf70f-9b64-4347-adbe-98dc3f768bb4/Picture3.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/e592a010-ed54-412f-bd0b-45c088229aaf/gm-logo-rebrand-electric-vehicles-design_dezeen_2364_col_0-1.gif Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/5d675143-813d-4a7e-aa8e-463549118780/Picture4.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/274a0ec1-fb41-43cd-a8ce-59d8e59400ee/IMG_0671.jpg Home - Make it stand out Fang Group attending 248th ECS Meeting at Chicago. Oct. 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/11dfe28f-ee20-4b82-b271-208a2fe1d9d1/jingjing-liu.png Home - Make it stand out Jingjing Liu won Best Poster Award at 2024 MSU CHEMS Research Forum. Sep. 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/2c8a0bab-6fc6-4d30-8b78-10bdbab4fc91/Screenshot+2025-11-20+002255.jpg Home - Make it stand out MSU is working to solve range anxiety. MSU research ushers in future battery technology Sep. 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/37b08816-bc72-4d59-ae5c-e152dfbb61c2/sonar-uploads_qRyHJD3SQypY2g3AFpYI_Innovators+Under+35+RGB+P.png Home - Make it stand out Dr. Chengcheng Fang is named a 2022 Innovator Under 35 by MIT Technology Review (Global list) Sep. 2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/1ac87360-5c25-4b9f-914c-b7ec66eba119/2-fang-msu-innovations_04-01-2025-104-640x480.jpeg Home - Make it stand out Chengcheng Fang receives the 2025 MSU Corporate Connector Award https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/dd25190d-5cbc-43c7-925a-d5213a0592ab/a2f48870-3b4d-11ef-b72b-19a051c7c8d9.png Home - Make it stand out Scientists make mind-blowing breakthrough that could have major impact on future tech: 'We were surprised' July, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/4c791bb8-0f6b-4373-a55a-f4d47ff06f4a/Screenshot+2025-10-25+213809.jpg Home - Make it stand out MSU researchers develop wood-based-based material that improves safety and life of lithium-ion batteries Scientists make mind-blowing breakthrough that could have major impact on future tech: 'We were surprised' July, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/7f5be525-3e76-43e7-94ca-dc9db777d03a/NatureEnergy_1253x940px.jpg Home - Make it stand out Improving the performance of lithium metal batteries Sep. 2021 https://www.fanggroup.org/education daily 0.75 2025-12-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/e116c8e4-a5ca-45d1-81e8-17db1ad2788c/IMG_9093+%282%29.png Education - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/3f06304d-4a00-4eb4-9172-54c409e160bb/IMG_9439+%281%29.png Education - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef6ce9c52236c536ad46beb/38e3e8f3-1112-4d4e-bd4c-d2dd080fc592/IMG_9431+%281%29.png Education - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.