Materials Scientist
Materials Scientist

Biography

Yaobin Xu is a materials scientist at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) campus. He has extensive research experience in the application of novel electron microscopy techniques to advance the fundamental understanding of energy storage materials. His research focuses on understanding the microstructure performance-relationship in energy-related materials. He uses advanced microscopy and spectroscopy for probing solid electrolyte interphase and lithium dendrite in lithium metal batteries, high energy density cathode materials, and all solid state batteries. Xu has more than 80 papers published in peer-reviewed professional journals including Science, Nature Review Materials, Nature Energy, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Catalysis, et al. He obtained a Ph.D in material physics and chemistry from Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2016.

Research Interest

  • Understanding the microstructure-performance relationship in energy-related materials 
  • Probing solid electrolyte interphase and lithium dendrite in lithium metal batteries using advanced microscopy and spectroscopy

Education

  • PhD in materials physics and chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2016
  • BS in metallurgical engineering, Central South University, 2010

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Materials Research Society
  • Microscopy Society of America
  • Symposium organizer/Session chair for Materials Research Society (MRS) and Microscopy & Microanalysis Meeting (M&M) meetings
  • Youth editorial board member for Journal of Materials Science & Technology, Renewable and Sustainable Energy
  • Associate Editor for Frontiers in Batteries and Electrochemistry
  • Guest Editor for Materials, Frontiers in Chemistry, Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Patents

Publications

2025

  • Jia H., B.G. Broekhuis, Y. Xu, Z. Yang, D.J. Kautz, L. Zhong, and M.H. Engelhard, et al. 2025. "Rational Electrolyte Design for Elevated-Temperature and Thermally Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries with Nickel-Rich Cathodes." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 17, no. 4:6260-6270. PNNL-SA-202615. doi:10.1021/acsami.4c17629

2024

  • Kim J., R. Yi, X. Cao, Y. Xu, M.H. Engelhard, S. Tripathi, and C. Wang, et al. 2024. "Extending Calendar Life of Si-Based Lithium-Ion Batteries by a Localized High Concentration Electrolyte." ACS Energy Letters 9, no. 5:2318 - 2325. PNNL-SA-193686. doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.4c00348
  • Le P., T.D. Vo, M. Le, T. Tran, Y. Xu, A.L. Phan, and L.T. Le, et al. 2024. "Synergetic Dual-Additive Electrolyte Enables Highly Stable Performance in Sodium Metal Batteries." Small 20, no. 40:2402256. PNNL-SA-193713. doi:10.1002/smll.202402256
  • Liao M., Y. Xu, M. Rahman, S. Tan, D. Wang, K. Wang, and N. Dandu, et al. 2024. "Hybrid polymer network cathode-enabled soluble-polysulfide-free lithium-sulfur batteries." Nature Sustainability 7, no. 12:1709-1718. PNNL-SA-201383. doi:10.1038/s41893-024-01453-0
  • Liu D., B. Wu, Y. Xu, J.F. Ellis, A.Y. Baranovskiy, D. Lu, and J.A. Lochala, et al. 2024. "Controlled large-area lithium deposition to reduce swelling of high-energy lithium metal pouch cells in liquid electrolytes." Nature Energy 9, no. 5:559-569. PNNL-SA-185424. doi:10.1038/s41560-024-01488-9
  • Tran T., X. Cao, Y. Xu, P. Gao, H. Zhou, F. Guo, and K. Han, et al. 2024. "Enhancing Cycling Stability of Lithium Metal Batteries by A Bifunctional Fluorinated Ether." Advanced Functional Materials 34, no. 42:2407012. PNNL-SA-197241. doi:10.1002/adfm.202407012
  • Xiao J., N. Adelstein, Y. Bi, W. Bian, J. Cabana, C.L. Cobb, and Y. Cui, et al. 2024. "Assessing cathode-electrolyte interphases in batteries." Nature Energy 9, no. 12:1463-1473. PNNL-SA-200480. doi:10.1038/s41560-024-01639-y
  • Yu Z., Y. Xu, M.L. Kindle, D.T. Marty, G.Y. Deng, C. Wang, and J. Xiao, et al. 2024. "Regenerative Solid Interfaces Enhance High-Performance All- Solid-State Lithium Batteries." ACS Nano 18, no. 18:11955-11963. PNNL-SA-183468. doi:10.1021/acsnano.4c02197

2023

  • Bi Y., Y. Xu, R. Yi, D. Liu, P. Zuo, J. Hu, and Q. Li, et al. 2023. "Simultaneous Single Crystal Growth and Segregation of Ni-Rich Cathode Enabled by Nanoscale Phase Separation for Advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries." Energy Storage Materials 62. PNNL-SA-179330. doi:10.1016/j.ensm.2023.102947
  • Cao X., Y. Xu, L. Zou, J. Bao, Y. Chen, B.E. Matthews, and J. Hu, et al. 2023. "Stability of solid electrolyte interphases and calendar life of lithium metal batteries." Energy & Environmental Science 16, no. 4:1548-1559. PNNL-SA-167955. doi:10.1039/D2EE03557J
  • Cheng C., Y. Zhou, Y. Xu, H. Jia, J. Kim, W. Xu, and C. Wang, et al. 2023. "Dynamic Molecular Investigation of the Solid-Electrolyte Interphase of an Anode-Free Lithium Metal Battery Using In Situ Liquid SIMS and Cryo-TEM." Nano Letters 23, no. 18:8385-8391. PNNL-SA-185620. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00709
  • Jia H., J. Kim, P. Gao, Y. Xu, M.H. Engelhard, B.E. Matthews, and C. Wang, et al. 2023. "A Systematic Study on the Effects of Solvating Solvents and Additives in Localized High-Concentration Electrolytes over Electrochemical Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries." Angewandte Chemie 135, no. 17:e202218005. PNNL-SA-180345. doi:10.1002/ange.202218005
  • Jia H., Z. Yang, Y. Xu, P. Gao, L. Zhong, D.J. Kautz, and D. Wu, et al. 2023. "Is nonflammability of electrolyte overrated in the overall safety performance of lithium ion batteries? A sobering revelation from a completely nonflammable electrolyte." Advanced Energy Materials 13, no. 4:Art No. 2203144. PNNL-SA-177605. doi:10.1002/aenm.202203144
  • Kautz D.J., X. Cao, P. Gao, B.E. Matthews, Y. Xu, K. Han, and F.O. Omenya, et al. 2023. "Designing Electrolytes With Controlled Solvation Structure for Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries." Advanced Energy Materials 13, no. 35:Art. No. 2301199. PNNL-SA-184367. doi:10.1002/aenm.202301199
  • Liu G., Y. He, Z. Liu, H. Wan, Y. Xu, H. Deng, and J. Zhang, et al. 2023. "In situ visualization of the pinning effect of planar defects on Li ion insertion." Nano Letters 23, no. 15:6839-6844. PNNL-SA-166145. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00712
  • Liu Q., W. Jiang, J. Xu, Y. Xu, Z. Yang, D. Yoo, and K. Pupek, et al. 2023. "A fluorinated cation introduces new interphasial chemistries to enable high-voltage lithium metal batteries." Nature Communications 14. PNNL-SA-184275. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-38229-7
  • Werres M., Y. Xu, H. Jia, C. Wang, W. Xu, A. Latz, and B. Horstmann. 2023. "Origin of heterogeneous stripping of lithium in liquid electrolytes." ACS Nano 17, no. 11:10218-10228. PNNL-SA-179910. doi:10.1021/acsnano.3c00329
  • Xu Y., H. Jia, P. Gao, D. Galvez-Aranda, S.P. Beltran, X. Cao, and P. Le, et al. 2023. "Direct in situ measurements of electrical properties of solid-electrolyte interphase on lithium metal anodes." Nature Energy 8. PNNL-SA-185363. doi:10.1038/s41560-023-01361-1

2022

  • Jia H., Y. Xu, L. Zou, P. Gao, X. Zhang, B. Taing, and B.E. Matthews, et al. 2022. "Sulfone-based electrolytes for high energy density lithium-ion batteries." Journal of Power Sources 527. PNNL-SA-168264. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.231171
  • Kim J., M.H. Engelhard, B. Lu, Y. Xu, S. Tan, B.E. Matthews, and S. Tripathi, et al. 2022. "High Current-Density-Charging Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by Double-Layer Protected Lithium Metal Anode." Advanced Functional Materials 32, no. 48:2207172. PNNL-SA-173710. doi:10.1002/adfm.202207172
  • Kim J., Y. Xu, M.H. Engelhard, J. Hu, H. Lim, H. Jia, and Z. Yang, et al. 2022. "Facile Dual-Protection Layer and Advanced Electrolyte Enhancing Performances of Cobalt-Free/Nickel-Rich Cathodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 14, no. 15:17405-17414. PNNL-SA-168201. doi:10.1021/acsami.2c01694
  • Li Q., R. Yi, Y. Xu, X. Cao, C. Wang, W. Xu, and J. Zhang. 2022. "Failure analysis and design principles of silicon-based lithium-ion batteries using micron-sized porous silicon/carbon composite." Journal of Power Sources 548, no. n/a:232063. PNNL-SA-168200. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.232063
  • Quinn J.P., B. Wu, Y. Xu, M.H. Engelhard, J. Xiao, and C. Wang. 2022. "Tracking the oxidation of silicon anodes using cryo-EELS upon battery cycling." ACS Nano 16, no. 12:21063-21070. PNNL-SA-180092. doi:10.1021/acsnano.2c08777
  • Sebti E., H.A. Evans, H. Chen, P.M. Richardson, K.M. White, R. Giovine, and K. Koirala, et al. 2022. "Stacking Faults Assist Lithium-Ion Conduction in a Halide-Based Superionic Conductor." Journal of the American Chemical Society 144, no. 13:5795-5811. PNNL-SA-170914. doi:10.1021/jacs.1c11335
  • Zhang X., P. Gao, Z. Wu, M.H. Engelhard, X. Cao, H. Jia, and Y. Xu, et al. 2022. "Pinned Electrode/Electrolyte Interphase and Its Formation Origin for Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Cathode in Stable Lithium Batteries." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 14, no. 46:52046-52057. PNNL-SA-175354. doi:10.1021/acsami.2c16890

2021

  • Han X., S. Wang, Y. Xu, G. Zhong, Y. Zhou, B. Liu, and X. Jiang, et al. 2021. "All Solid Thick Oxide Cathodes Based on Low Temperature Sintering for High Energy Solid Batteries." Energy and Environmental Science 14, no. 9:5044-5056. PNNL-SA-164550. doi:10.1039/D1EE01494C
  • Horstmann B., J. Shi, R. Amine, M. Werres, X. He, H. Jia, and F. Hausen, et al. 2021. "Strategies towards enabling lithium metal in batteries: interphases and electrodes." Energy & Environmental Science 14, no. 10:5289-5314. PNNL-SA-160592. doi:10.1039/d1ee00767j
  • Jia H., X. Zhang, Y. Xu, L. Zou, J. Kim, P. Gao, and M.H. Engelhard, et al. 2021. "Toward the Practical Use of Cobalt-Free Lithium-Ion Batteries by an Advanced Ether-Based Electrolyte." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 13, no. 37:44339-44347. PNNL-SA-162906. doi:10.1021/acsami.1c12072
  • Jia H., Y. Xu, X. Zhang, S.D. Burton, P. Gao, B.E. Matthews, and M.H. Engelhard, et al. 2021. "Advanced low-flammable electrolytes for stable operation of high-voltage lithium-ion batteries." Angewandte Chemie International Edition 60, no. 23:12999-13006. PNNL-SA-159888. doi:10.1002/anie.202102403
  • Yang H., K. Tay, Y. Xu, B. Rajbanshi, S. Kasani, J. Bright, and J. Boryczka, et al. 2021. "Nitrogen-Doped Lithium Lanthanum Titanate Nanofiber-Polymer Composite Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries." Nature Communications 168, no. 11:Art. No. 110507. PNNL-SA-162349. doi:10.1149/1945-7111/ac30ad
  • Yang H., M. Abdullah, J. Bright, W. Hu, K. Kittilstved, Y. Xu, and C. Wang, et al. 2021. "Polymer-Ceramic Composite Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries: Ionic Conductivity and Chemical Interaction Enhanced by Oxygen Vacancy in Ceramic Nanofibers." Journal of Power Sources 495. PNNL-SA-159529. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.229796
  • Zhang X., H. Jia, L. Zou, Y. Xu, L. Mu, Z. Yang, and M.H. Engelhard, et al. 2021. "Electrolyte Regulating toward Stabilization of Cobalt-Free Ultrahigh-Nickel Layered Oxide Cathode in Lithium-Ion Batteries." ACS Energy Letters 6, no. 4:1324-1332. PNNL-SA-158874. doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.1c00374

2020

  • Bi Y., J. Tao, Y. Wu, L. Li, Y. Xu, E. Hu, and B. Wu, et al. 2020. "Reversible planar gliding and microcracking in a single-crystalline Ni-rich cathode." Science 370, no. 6522:1313-1317. PNNL-SA-152319. doi:10.1126/science.abc3167
  • Chen J., X. Fan, Q. Li, H. Yang, M.R. Khoshi, Y. Xu, and S. Hwang, et al. 2020. "Electrolyte Design for LiF-rich Solid-Electrolyte Interfaces to Enable High-performance Microsized Alloy Anodes for Batteries." Nature Energy 5, no. 5:386-397. PNNL-SA-151702. doi:10.1038/s41560-020-0601-1
  • Jia H., Y. Xu, S.D. Burton, P. Gao, X. Zhang, B.E. Matthews, and M.H. Engelhard, et al. 2020. "Enabling Ether-Based Electrolytes for Long Cycle Life of Lithium-Ion Batteries at High Charge Voltage." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 12, no. 49:54893-54903. PNNL-SA-156239. doi:10.1021/acsami.0c18177
  • Jin Y., Y. Xu, P. Le, T.D. Vo, Q. Zhou, X. Qi, and M.H. Engelhard, et al. 2020. "Highly Reversible Sodium Ion Batteries Enabled by Stable Electrolyte-Electrode Interphases." ACS Energy Letters 5, no. 10:3212-3220. PNNL-SA-153228. doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.0c01712
  • Xu Y., H. Wu, H. Jia, J. Zhang, X. Wu, and C. Wang. 2020. "Current density regulated atomic to nanoscale process on Li deposition and solid electrolyte interphase revealed by Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy." ACS Nano 14, no. 7:8766-8775. PNNL-SA-152803. doi:10.1021/acsnano.0c03344
  • Xu Y., H. Wu, H. Jia, M.H. Engelhard, J. Zhang, W. Xu, and C. Wang. 2020. "Sweeping potential regulated structural and chemical evolution of solid-electrolyte interphase on Cu and Li as revealed by cryo-TEM." Nano Energy 76, no. n/a:105040. PNNL-SA-153402. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105040
  • Xu Y., H. Wu, Y. He, Q. Chen, J. Zhang, W. Xu, and C. Wang. 2020. "Atomic to Nanoscale Origin of Vinylene Carbonate Enhanced Cycling Stability of Lithium Metal Anode Revealed by Cryo-Transmission Electron Microscopy." Nano Letters 20, no. 1:418-425. PNNL-SA-149594. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b04111
  • Zhang X., H. Jia, Y. Xu, L. Zou, M.H. Engelhard, B.E. Matthews, and C. Wang, et al. 2020. "Unravelling high-temperature stability of lithium-ion battery with lithium-rich oxide cathode in localized high-concentration electrolyte." Journal of Power Sources Advances 5, no. n/a:100024. PNNL-SA-152836. doi:10.1016/j.powera.2020.100024
  • Zhang X., L. Zou, Y. Xu, X. Cao, M.H. Engelhard, B.E. Matthews, and L. Zhong, et al. 2020. "Advanced electrolytes for fast-charging high-voltage lithium-ion batteries in wide-temperature range." Advanced Energy Materials 10, no. 22:2000368. PNNL-SA-150274. doi:10.1002/aenm.202000368

2019 

Cao X., Y. Xu, L. Zhang, M.H. Engelhard, L. Zhong, X. Ren, and H. Jia, et al. 2019. "Nonflammable Electrolytes for Lithium Ion Batteries Enabled by Ultraconformal Passivation Interphases." ACS Energy Letters 4, no. 10:2529-2534. PNNL-SA-145269. doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.9b01926 

Wu H., Y. Xu, X. Ren, B. Liu, M.H. Engelhard, M.S. Ding, and P.Z. El-Khoury, et al. 2019. "Polymer-in-"quasi-ionic liquid" electrolytes for high-voltage lithium metal batteries." Advanced Energy Materials 9, no. 41:1902108. PNNL-SA-144443. doi:10.1002/aenm.201902108 

He Y., X. Ren, Y. Xu, M.H. Engelhard, X. Li, J. Xiao, and J. Liu, et al. 2019. "Origin of Lithium Whisker Formation and Growth under Stress." Nature Nanotechnology 14, no. 11:1042-1047. PNNL-SA-144887. doi:10.1038/s41565-019-0558-z