Research

Research

Vlad NRJ Group research has primarily focus on design and synthesis of materials and architectures to address the new challenges arising in the field of electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Due to the unique combination of research background in organic materials and inorganic nanomaterials, our group develops interest in novel electrolyte chemistries and interfacial transport phenomena; alkali metal batteries and SEI studies; along with synthesis and electrochemistry of exotic inorganic phases for alkali and alkali earth cation storage.
Thanks largely to the ERC Grant (MOOiRE, GA 770870) awarded to Prof. Vlad in 2017, a major expertise was consolidated on organic and organometallic chemistries and materials for energy storage, incl.: high-voltage organic battery materials; Metal Organic Frameworks with mixed redox of organic and metal centers; and mixed ionic-electronic conducting MOFs for battery and supercapacitor applications. Vlad NRJ Group was founded in September 2015.

01

Focus 1: New Organic Battery Electrode Materials

By designing and synthesizing new organic battery materials, we also aim to learn more about fundamental processes such as electron and ion transport through ordered solids, solid-phase structural changes, and correlation between the molecular and solid-state electrochemistry of organic materials.

02

Focus 2: Exotic Inorganic Battery Electrode and Electrolyte Materials

Whereas organic batteries are the future, inorganic batteries are the present and require urgent solutions. We challenge this realm by looking at unconventional ceramic phases and their reactivity, smart electrolytes and interfaces.

Representative Publications:

03

Focus 3: Mixed Ion-Electron Conductive MOFs for Applications in Energy Research

Our interest here combines expertise and developments in both, organic and inorganic battery materials, and trying to address these through hybrid molecular structures, aka. MOFs. We study several aspects of MOFs, ranging from their formation mechanisms to ion and electron transport behavior and aiming at their stimuli-responsive behavior (light, catalysis, energy conversion and generation).

Representative Publications:

Funding

Our programs could not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.

Hydra
Hydra
MOOiRE
MOOiRE
Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique
Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique
Innoviris Brussels
Innoviris Brussels
Université catholique de Louvain
Université catholique de Louvain