News
University of Dundee Lecturer featured in RSC Emerging Investigators 2025 Collection
The collaborative work with researchers from University of Cambridge and University of Birmingham uncovers degradation mechanisms in futuristic cathode in collaborative work
Published on 22 July 2025
The abstract graphic (left) from the paper showing the redox mechanism and origin of oxygen dimers and Dr Banerjee (right)
Dr Hrishit Banerjee, Lecturer in Physics at the University of Dundee, has been selected as a Featured Author for the Emerging Investigators 2025 collection of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
Dr Banerjee’s publication, which has also been designated as a HOT Paper, focuses on the degradation mechanisms in lithium-rich (Li-rich) cathode materials—an area of significant interest in the development of next-generation high-capacity, high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. The research was carried out in collaboration with Prof. Dame Clare P. Grey FRS (University of Cambridge) and Prof. Andrew J. Morris (University of Birmingham) and supported by The Faraday Institution’s Degradation Project.
Li-ion batteries play a pivotal role in enabling the transition to net-zero carbon emissions, powering everything from mobile technology to electric vehicles. However, extending their performance and lifespan, particularly for use in grid storage and heavy-duty applications, requires breakthroughs in cathode design. Li-rich materials hold promise due to their enhanced energy density but suffer from degradation linked to oxygen loss.
Using advanced theoretical methods, Dr Banerjee and his collaborators have uncovered the fundamental redox processes responsible for both the enhanced capacity and the degradation in Li-rich cathodes. This insight provides a pathway for designing more stable and efficient battery materials through targeted doping strategies.
Dr Banerjee’s research lies at the intersection of theoretical physics and energy materials, with a focus on supporting the global transition to sustainable energy systems.
His full article, along with his photograph and author biography, is available to read online via the Royal Society of Chemistry.