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Wyatt E. Tenhaeff

Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering

PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009

Office Location
4403 Wegmans Hall
Telephone
(585) 275-5080
Fax
(585) 273-1348
Web Address
Website

Research Overview

My group specializes in the development of novel thin film coatings and structures for a wide array of applications. Electrochemical energy storage in reversible lithium ion and lithium metal batteries is a primary interest.  We are exploring approaches to enhance the reversibility (e.g. cycle life), safety, and energy densities of lithium metal batteries through the incorporation of thin protective electrode coatings. Applied to lithium metal anodes, these coatings suppress parasitic reactions with the electrolyte, leading to enhanced reversibility over hundreds of cycles. We possess unique expertise in thin film synthesis technologies utilizing both conventional solution and vacuum deposition approaches. A key technology is initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), which provides exceptional compositional control and coating conformality in ultrathin polymeric films. In situ thickness characterization during film growth provides nanoscale precision in films as thin as 10 nm.

Research Interests

  • Electrochemical Energy Storage
  • Solid State and Lithium Metal Batteries
  • Polymer Thin Films, Interfaces and Thin Film Synthesis and Characterization
  • Vacuum Deposition Processing

Courses Taught

  • CHE 231:  Chemical Reactor Design
  • CHE 272:  Chemical Engineering Process Control
  • CHE 476:  Polymer Chemistry

Selected Publications

  • Huo, N.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "High Refractive Index Polymer Thin Films by Charge-Transfer Complexation,' Macromolecules, 2023. DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02535.
  • Zhao, Y.; Huo, N.; Ye, S.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Elastic broadband antireflection coatings for flexible optics using multi-layered polymer thin films," Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2023. DOI: 10.1039/d3tc00104k.
  • Huo, N.; Ye, S.; Ouderkirk, A.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Porous Polymer Films with Tunable Pore Size and Morphology by Vapor Deposition." ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2022. DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.2c01032
  • Manly, A.J.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Mechanically and thermally robust microporous copolymer separators for lithium ion batteries," Electrochemical Acta, 2023, 425, 140705. DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.140705
  • Manly, A.J.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "One-step fabrication of robust lithium ion battery separators by polymerization-induced phase separation, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2022. DOI: 10.1039/d1ta10730e
  • Li, Z.; Hu, F.; Huo, N.; Tenhaeff, W., "A Flexible Thin Film Lithium Battery with a Chemical Vapor Deposited Organic Complex Cathode," Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2022. DOI: 1039/d1ta10867k.
  • Zhao, Y.N.; Huo, N.; Ye, S.; Boromand, A.; Ouderkirk, A.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Stretchable, Transparent, Permeation Barrier Layer for Flexible Optics," Advanced Optical Materials, 2021. DOI: 10.1002/adom.202100334. Publication
  • Li, Z.; Zhao, Y.N.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Determining the Absolute Anodic Stability Threshold of Polymer Electrolytes: A Capacity-Based Electrochemical Method," Chemistry of Materials, 2021, 33, 6, 1927-1934. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.0c04248. Publication
  • Ioanniti, M.M.; Hu, F.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Energy-Dense Li Metal Anodes Enabled by Thin Film Eelectrolytes" JournalofVacuum Science & Technology, 2020, 38, 6. DOI:10.1116/6.0000430.
  • Hu, F.; Li, Z.; Wang, S.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Mirror-Like Electrodeposition of Lithium Metal under a Low-Resistance Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interphase Layer," ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12, 35, 39674-39684. Publication
  • Patel, A.; Wilcox, K.; Li, Z., George, I.; Juneja, R.; Lollar, C.; Lazar, S.; Grunlan, J.; Tenhaeff, W.E.; Lutkenhaus, J.L., "High Modulus, Thermally Stable, and Self-Extinguishing Aramid Nanofiber Separators," ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12, 23, 25756-25766. Publication
  • Zhao, Y.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Thermally and Oxidatively Stable Polymer Electrolyte for Batteries Enabled by Phthalate Plasticization," ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2020, 2, 80-90. Publication
  • Shen, B.H.; Wang, S.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Ultrathin Conformal Polycyclosiloxane Films to Improve Silicon Cycling Stability," Science Advances,2019, 5, 7, eaaw4856. Publication
  • Gao, Y.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "Synthesis and Characterization of Thin Film Polyelectrolytes for Soild-State Lithium Microbatteries," Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, 2019, 37, 5, 051401. Publication
  • Li, Z.; Zhao, Y.N.; Tenhaeff, W.E., "5V Stable Nitrile-Bearing Polymer Electroyte with Aliphatic Segment as Internal Plasticizer," ACS Applied Energy Materials, 2019, 2, 5, 3264-3273. Publication
  • Shen, B.H.; Armstrong, B.L.; Doucet, M.; Heroux, L.; Browning, J.F.; Agamalian, M.; Tenhaeff, W.E.;Veith, G.M., "Shear Thickening Electrolyte Built from Sterically Stabilized Colloidal Particles,"ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2018, 10, 11, 9424-9434. Publication
  • Shen, B.H.; Veith, G.M.; Tenhaeff, W. E., "Silicon Surface Tethered Polymer as Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interface,"Scientific Reports, 2018, 8, 11549. Publication

Honors

  • NSF CAREER Award (2019)
  • Curtis Award for Nontenured Faculty Teaching (2018)
  • R&D 100 Award (2017)
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory Weinberg Fellowship (2009-2011)
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2005-2008)
  • MIT Presidential T. Haslam Fellowship (2004-2005)