DOCTORAL CANDIDATE
Maryam Ikram

SUPERVISORS
Dr. Marie Guignard, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – ICMCB (CNRS-ICMB)
Prof. Max Avdeev, The University of Sydney (USYD)

Solid-state chemistry, Materials science

The objective of this project is to investigate the diffusivity of alkali ions, specifically lithium or sodium, in manganese-based positive electrode materials for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries. As part of this exploratory research, Maryam Ikram will synthesize these compounds at the Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux (ICMCB) and evaluate their structure and electrochemical performance as positive electrode materials.

The project aims to explore new Mn-based oxides such as Nax(M, M’)2O4 focusing on stabilizing these materials under ambient pressure conditions. The electrochemical properties of synthesized materials will be tested in sodium-ion batteries. High-pressure, high-temperature synthesis may also be conducted to investigate structural and electrochemical differences. In situ, and operando X-ray powder diffraction will be used to monitor the structural mechanisms during the charge/discharge processes of sodium-ion batteries.

In parallel, Maryam will collaborate with Professor Maxim Avdeev at the University of Sydney, where she will integrate theoretical and experimental tools, such as Neutron diffraction, Maximum Entropy Method (MEM), and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, to gain a comprehensive understanding of sodium transport mechanisms within the Nax(M, M’)2O4 structure. This fundamental research will contribute to optimizing the electrochemical properties of these materials, opening new avenues for their application as positive electrode materials in sodium-ion batteries.