Leah Ellis

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States Contact Info
8K followers 500+ connections

Join to view profile

Activity

Join now to see all activity

Experience & Education

  • Sublime Systems

View Leah’s full experience

See their title, tenure and more.

or

By clicking Continue to join or sign in, you agree to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

Volunteer Experience

  • Greentown Labs Graphic

    Board Member

    Greentown Labs

    - Present 2 years 7 months

    Greentown Labs is the largest climatetech incubator in North America. As Community Board Member, I represent the startups and act as a liaison between the board and the entrepreneur community.

  • Canadian Mental Health Association Graphic

    Volunteer

    Canadian Mental Health Association

    - 3 years 4 months

    Health

    I provided one-on-one emotional support and long-term friendship to someone with poor mental health through the Building Bridges Program. I continue to support this person although I am no longer an official volunteer.

  • Co-Founder

    Green Chemistry Initiative, Dalhousie University

    - 1 year 5 months

    Science and Technology

    I founded the Green Chemistry Initiative to promote sustainability and hazard awareness in the Department of Chemistry at Dalhousie University. At the time of my graduation, the group had hosted many successful events and had a dozen active members, including undergrads, grad students, postdocs, and a professor.

  • Founder and Spokesperson

    Jeff Dahn Bursary in Physics

    - 1 year 1 month

    Education

    The $100k fund was established by Prof. Jeff Dahn's students and colleagues, past and present, to honor his 60th birthday. Each year this endowed fund supports an under-privileged physics student from Nova Scotia.

Publications

  • A New Method for Determining the Concentration of Electrolyte Components in Lithium-Ion Cells, using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Exploring Interactions between Electrodes in Li[NixMnyCo1-x-y]O2 graphite cells through Electrode/Electrolyte Interfaces Analysis, Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

  • LiPO2F2 as an electrolyte additive in Li[Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2]O2/graphite pouch cells

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Lithium Difluorophosphate as an Electrolyte Additive in Li[Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2]O2/graphite Pouch Cells

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Some Physical Properties of Ethylene Carbonate-Free Electrolytes

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • The effect of methyl acetate, ethylene sulfate, and carbonate blends on the parasitic heat flow of NMC532/graphite lithium ion pouch cells

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Zero Stress-Optic Bismuth Oxide-Based Glass. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids

    Journal of Non-Crystaline Solids

    Other authors

  • Effects of Surface Coating on Gas Evolution and Impedance Growth at Li[NixMnyCo1-x-y]O2 Positive Electrodes in Li-ion Cells

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Measuring Oxygen Release from Charged LiNixMnyCo1-x-yO2 and its Effects on the Performance of High Voltage Li-ion Cells

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Quantifying, Understanding and Evaluating the Effects of Gas Consumption in Lithium-Ion Cells

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Studies of Gas Generation, Gas Consumption and Impedance Growth in Li-ion Cells with Carbonate or Fluorinated Electrolytes Using the Pouch Bag Method

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Synergistic Effect of LiPF6 and LiBF4 as Electrolyte Salts in Lithium-Ion Cells

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • The Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Formation Reactions of Ethylene Sulfate and Its Synergistic Chemistry with Prop-1-ene-1, 3-Sultone in Lithium-Ion Cells, Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Using Positive Electrode Symmetric Cells to Find Electrolyte/Electrode Combinations with Minimum Reactivity

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Surface-Electrolyte Interphase Formation in Lithium-Ion Cells Containing Pyridine Adduct Additives

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    The use of electrolyte additives to form a passive solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) at one or both electrodes is a common method for improving lithium-ion cell lifetime and performance. This work follows the chemical and electrochemical processes involved in SEI formation on graphite electrodes for two Lewis acid-base adducts, pyridine boron trifluoride (PBF) and pyridine phosphorus pentafluoride (PPF). The combination of experimental methods (electrochemistry, in situ volumetric…

    The use of electrolyte additives to form a passive solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) at one or both electrodes is a common method for improving lithium-ion cell lifetime and performance. This work follows the chemical and electrochemical processes involved in SEI formation on graphite electrodes for two Lewis acid-base adducts, pyridine boron trifluoride (PBF) and pyridine phosphorus pentafluoride (PPF). The combination of experimental methods (electrochemistry, in situ volumetric measurements, gas chromatography, isothermal microcalorimetry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) with quantum chemistry models (density functional theory) provides new insight into the interfacial chemistry. PBF and PPF are reduced at ∼1.3 V vs. Li/Li+ and ∼1.4 V, respectively. This is followed by radical coupling to form 4,4′-bipyridine adducts, hydrogen transfer to ethylene carbonate solvent molecules, and reduction of the solvent to produce lithium ethyl carbonate. The reduced bipyridine adducts, Li2(PBF)2 and Li2(PPF)2, are shown to compose part of the SEI at the negative electrode surface.

    Other authors
    See publication

  • Effect of Substituting LiBF4 for LiPF6 in High Voltage Lithium-ion Cells Containing Electrolyte Additives

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Rapid Impedance Growth and Gas Production at the Li-Ion Cell Positive Electrode in the Absence of a Negative Electrode

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    Other authors

  • Study of Triallyl Phosphate as an Electrolyte Additive for High Voltage Lithium-Ion Cells

    Journal of Power Sources

    The role of triallyl phosphate as an electrolyte additive in Li(Ni0.42Mn0.42Co0.16)O2/graphite pouch cells was studied using ex-situ gas measurements, ultra high precision coulometry, automated storage experiments, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, long-term cycling and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cells containing triallyl phosphate produced less gas during formation, cycling and storage than control cells. The use of triallyl phosphate led to higher coulombic efficiency and smaller…

    The role of triallyl phosphate as an electrolyte additive in Li(Ni0.42Mn0.42Co0.16)O2/graphite pouch cells was studied using ex-situ gas measurements, ultra high precision coulometry, automated storage experiments, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, long-term cycling and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cells containing triallyl phosphate produced less gas during formation, cycling and storage than control cells. The use of triallyl phosphate led to higher coulombic efficiency and smaller charge endpoint capacity slippage during ultra high precision charger testing. Cells containing triallyl phosphate showed smaller potential drop during 500 h storage at 40 °C and 60 °C and the voltage drop decreased as the triallyl phosphate content in the electrolyte increased. However, large amounts of triallyl phosphate (>3% by weight in the electrolyte) led to large impedance after cycling and storage. Symmetric cell studies showed large amounts of triallyl phosphate (5% or more) led to significant impedance increase at both negative and positive electrodes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies suggested that the high impedance came from the polymerization of triallyl phosphate molecules which formed thick solid electrolyte interphase films at the surfaces of both negative and positive electrodes. An optimal amount of 2%–3% triallyl phosphate led to better capacity retention during long term cycling.

    Other authors
    See publication

  • In Situ XRD Study of Silicon, Lead and Bismuth Negative Electrodes in Nonaqueous Sodium Cells

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society

    The electrochemical alloying of sodium with silicon, lead and bismuth was studied by in-situ X-ray diffraction. No evidence was found for sodium insertion into silicon at temperatures up to 60°C. Lead was found to catalytically decompose electrolyte, hindering sodiation. This could be avoided by applying a high current pulse to the cell to sodiate the lead surface. Once the surface was sodiated, further sodiation of lead could proceed at low currents. The sodiation of lead followed a path that…

    The electrochemical alloying of sodium with silicon, lead and bismuth was studied by in-situ X-ray diffraction. No evidence was found for sodium insertion into silicon at temperatures up to 60°C. Lead was found to catalytically decompose electrolyte, hindering sodiation. This could be avoided by applying a high current pulse to the cell to sodiate the lead surface. Once the surface was sodiated, further sodiation of lead could proceed at low currents. The sodiation of lead followed a path that differs from the equilibrium phase diagram and from that described in earlier reports. During sodiation, Na9Pb4 was formed with a previously unreported structure that was found to be isostructural with Na9Sn4. It was found that Na could be reversibly inserted into bismuth. The mechanism for bismuth sodiation follows equilibrium phase behavior.

    See publication

  • Sodium Insertion into Tin Cobalt Carbon Active/Inactive Nanocomposite

    Journal of The Electrochemical Society

    DOI: 10.1149/2.10330
    Sodium insertion into nanostructured (Sn0.5Co0.5)1-xCx, (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 1), was investigated. This is the first report to our knowledge of an active/inactive alloy with tin being used for sodium-ion batteries. Although the cycle life of the alloy is superior to pure tin, the capacity obtained was low, compared to lithium insertion into the same material. It was found that only 8% of the tin in (Sn0.5Co0.5)1-xCx is active at 30◦C, while 38% of the Sn is active at 60◦C. The…

    DOI: 10.1149/2.10330
    Sodium insertion into nanostructured (Sn0.5Co0.5)1-xCx, (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 1), was investigated. This is the first report to our knowledge of an active/inactive alloy with tin being used for sodium-ion batteries. Although the cycle life of the alloy is superior to pure tin, the capacity obtained was low, compared to lithium insertion into the same material. It was found that only 8% of the tin in (Sn0.5Co0.5)1-xCx is active at 30◦C, while 38% of the Sn is active at 60◦C. The carbon phase in (Sn0.5Co0.5)1-xCx was found to have a capacity of about 130 mAh/g below 1.2 V and was 100% active at all temperatures measured.

  • Reversible Insertion of Sodium in Tin

    Journal of the Electrochemical Society


    doi: 10.1149/2.037211jes

    The electrochemistry and the structural changes that occur during sodium insertion and removal from tin are studied by in-situ X-ray diffraction at 30◦C. The Sn vs. Na voltage curve has four distinct plateaus, corresponding to four two-phase regions during sodiation, and indicating that four Na-Sn binary alloys are formed. The alloy formed at full sodiation was found to be Na15Si4, as expected from the Na-Sn binary system at equilibrium. The three…


    doi: 10.1149/2.037211jes

    The electrochemistry and the structural changes that occur during sodium insertion and removal from tin are studied by in-situ X-ray diffraction at 30◦C. The Sn vs. Na voltage curve has four distinct plateaus, corresponding to four two-phase regions during sodiation, and indicating that four Na-Sn binary alloys are formed. The alloy formed at full sodiation was found to be Na15Si4, as expected from the Na-Sn binary system at equilibrium. The three intermediate Na-Sn phases that form during sodiation have X-ray diffraction patterns that do not correspond to any known equilibrium phase of Na-Sn. More work is needed to characterize these new binary Na-Sn phases.

  • A Small Angle X-ray Scattering and Electrochemical Study of the Decomposition of Wood During Pyrolysis

    Carbon

    The pyrolysis of nine wood samples (Basswood, Cherry, Pine, Walnut, Maple, Hickory, Paduak, Tigerwood and Ipe) between 30 and 1200 °C was investigated. Using Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), the thermal degradation of the cellular structure of wood followed by the onset and growth of graphene sheets and associated nanoporosity between the sheets, was observed as temperature increased. SAXS, wide angle X-ray scattering and electrochemical studies of Na insertion using Na batteries were used…

    The pyrolysis of nine wood samples (Basswood, Cherry, Pine, Walnut, Maple, Hickory, Paduak, Tigerwood and Ipe) between 30 and 1200 °C was investigated. Using Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), the thermal degradation of the cellular structure of wood followed by the onset and growth of graphene sheets and associated nanoporosity between the sheets, was observed as temperature increased. SAXS, wide angle X-ray scattering and electrochemical studies of Na insertion using Na batteries were used to study the wood samples pyrolyzed to 1100 °C. Regardless of the original wood precursor used during pyrolysis, the nanostructure and resulting electrochemical behaviour of all the wood samples were similar after heating to 1100 °C.

    See publication

Patents

  • Anode Compositions for Sodium-Ion Batteries and Methods of Making the Same

    Issued US WO2014081786

    A sodium ion battery. The battery includes a cathode that includes sodium, an electrolyte that include sodium, and an electrochemically active anode material. The electrochemically active anode material includes an electrochemically active phase and an electrochemically inactive phase. The electrochemically active phase and the electrochemically inactive phase share at least one common phase boundary. The electrochemically active phase does not comprise oxygen, sulfur, or a halogen. The…

    A sodium ion battery. The battery includes a cathode that includes sodium, an electrolyte that include sodium, and an electrochemically active anode material. The electrochemically active anode material includes an electrochemically active phase and an electrochemically inactive phase. The electrochemically active phase and the electrochemically inactive phase share at least one common phase boundary. The electrochemically active phase does not comprise oxygen, sulfur, or a halogen. The electrochemically active phase is essentially free of crystalline grains that are greater than 40 nm.

    Other inventors
    See patent

  • Method and system for determining concentration of electrolyte components in lithium-ion cell

    US 123

    Other inventors

Courses

  • Advanced Battery, Fuel Cell and Supercapacitor Materials

    5312

  • Advanced Topics in Separations

    5201

  • Chemometrics

    5202

  • Experimental Techniques in Material Science

    6250

  • Fundamental and Applied Electrochemistry

    5310

  • Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Data Analysis Fundamentals

    -

  • Sustainable Materials Issues

    6361

  • Theory of Chemical Bonding

    5301

  • Theory of X-ray Spectroscopy

    6358

Honors & Awards

  • Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship

    Vanier- Banting Programs and CIHR Awards

    Ranked 4th out of 217 applicants and 24 awardees

  • Canada Section Student Award

    The Electrochemical Society

  • Anna Wilson Scholarship in Chemistry

    Dalhousie University

  • Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Graduate Scholarship

    Province of Nova Scotia

  • NSERC Post Doctoral Fellowship

    Natural Science and Engineering Research Council

    declined

  • Walter C. Sumner Memorial Fellowship

    -

  • Oral Presentation Award, Materials Science Division

    99th Canadian Society of Chemistry Conference

    For an oral presentation, entitled "Reactions of CO2 in Lithium-Ion Cells".

  • National Research Council of Canada Postgraduate Scholarship (NSERC PGS-D)

    NSERC

    NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships-Doctoral Program (PGS D) provides financial support to high calibre scholars who are engaged in a doctoral program in the natural sciences or engineering.

  • Anna Wilson Scholarship in Chemistry

    Dalhousie University

    Awarded for work carried out in the graduate program in Chemistry, including class work, research, the preliminary oral examinations and demonstrating duties.

  • Kinsmen Club of Halifax Scholarship

    Kinsmen Club of Halifax

  • Reverend J. Lloyd Keating Scholarship

    University of King's College

Languages

  • English

    Native or bilingual proficiency

  • French

    Limited working proficiency

More activity by Leah

View Leah’s full profile

  • See who you know in common
  • Get introduced
  • Contact Leah directly
Join to view full profile

Other similar profiles

Explore more posts

Explore collaborative articles

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.

Explore More

Others named Leah Ellis in United States

88 others named Leah Ellis in United States are on LinkedIn

See others named Leah Ellis

Add new skills with these courses

See all courses