Research summary
Affordable, high-quality, dependable batteries are a vital tool in our quest to build a more sustainable and recycling-focused economy. As Canada Research Chair in Batteries for Sustainability, Dr. Xiaolei Wang aims to create better battery technologies that can be both environmentally friendly and practical.
He and his research team are coming up with new ways to recycle and improve existing lithium-ion battery parts. They are also working on creating alternative batteries, such as rechargeable ones that use zinc ions, to see if they can perform as well as—or better than—current ones. In addition, they are testing out new methods to produce these innovative batteries on a larger scale and creating working examples that show their real-world potential. Their research will support the development of more sustainable battery technologies.