“I love science and I love understanding how the world works,” Dr Neeraj Sharma, Early Career Researcher of the Year Awardee

Dr Neeraj Sharma from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney — considered one of the global leaders in the use of neutron and X-ray scattering methods to study materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries – has won the ‘Early Career Researcher of the Year (Physical Sciences)’.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian honoured 35-year-old Dr Sharma, from the School of Chemistry at UNSW, with the award at the Government House in Sydney, the university said in a statement.

The award was given for his work in lithium-ion batteries found in electronic devices, electric vehicles and the grid, as well as next-generation battery systems such as sodium-ion batteries that will leave minimal environmental impact, and transition away from fossil fuels for energy generation and transportation.

 Neeraj Sharma opens up in an exclusive interview with Indus Age about his personal life professional life and a lot more.

Interviewed by Shashi Narasimhiah

Neeraj tell us about your personal life, what brought you to UNSW, your student life and your life in Fiji.

My parents and I immigrated from the Fiji Islands when I was about 5 years old. My ancestors are Indian. I went to public schools in Sydney before moving on to do an undergraduate degree in Science at the University of Sydney followed by a PhD in Chemistry. Then I did a post-doctoral stint (a researcher) at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) before moving to UNSW to start my research group.

What inspired you to take up a research career in the area of Chemistry and specifically batteries?   

It all comes down to being from a family of teachers and I am also married to one. In addition, mum is a Professor of Physics at the University of Sydney – I used to love spending a day or two during the holidays at both mum and dad’s respective workplaces. I have also had some fantastic role models and opportunities – excellent teachers, particularly science teachers at high school, ability to go to things like the National Youth Science Forum (at the end of Year 11), spending an exchange year at Uppsala University in Sweden during my undergraduate studies, having excellent supervisors and mentors and most importantly a loving and caring family.

In terms of key things that drove my interests, a series of excellent science teachers at Sydney Technical High School, the National Youth Science Forum which was critical in showing me the expensive and cool toys scientists play with and my time in Sweden demonstrated to me the value of science. From this point on, I wanted to do research. I tried a whole bunch of research directions. As an aside, I would highly recommend to anyone thinking about pursing research that they should take advantage of any research opportunities that come up. The projects I tried, included understanding the fractal nature of clouds, growing optical fibres and shooting lasers at molecules for my honours year (final year of undergraduate studies). I ended up in solid state chemistry and crystallography for my PhD and from my time at ANSTO onwards I have been working on batteries using all my know-how from my PhD and earlier studies/experiences. I was simply interested in understanding materials and their function. I have been fortunate enough to focus this on batteries and this is currently a highly pertinent topic. Essentially, I want to know how things work at the atom level and using this information make/build better materials and devices.

 How are the sodium ion batteries important to us and what are its specific applications in our daily life. Why does it fascinate you?

Sodium-ion batteries are not commercialized as yet, but there are a few companies starting to develop this technology. They work in a similar principle to lithium-ion batteries that one would find in mobile phones, laptop computers and other small electronic devices, in addition to electric vehicles and the energy storage solutions for renewable energy. One of the biggest advantages of using sodium-ion batteries rather than lithium-ion batteries is the cost advantage – sodium is more abundant and therefore produces cheaper devices relative to lithium. Furthermore, the battery itself can be simplified a little and some toxic elements can be avoided if a high-performance sodium-ion battery can be developed. The key application in my opinion would be energy storage for renewable energy generation (e.g. storing excess energy from solar).

The thing that excites me about sodium-ion batteries is the atomic-level chemistry. Sodium ions are bigger than lithium ions and therefore the materials used need to withstand changes that are caused by a larger component moving around rather than the smaller lithium. This provides a very exciting opportunity to design the chemistry or crystallography to allow this movement to occur. It is both challenging and exciting.

Your research also explores solid-state batteries, energy-dense lithium-sulphur batteries, dual function solar batteries. Tell us more about this, their application and how it would benefit the common public?
Much like sodium-ion batteries described above these are next generation or future battery concepts. The reason for researching each concept is because of the advantages they offer. Lithium-sulfur batteries in theory can provide 10 times more energy storage capability in a similar volume/mass to current lithium-ion batteries, while solid state batteries would in principle be completely safe (no risk of explosions or fire). Dual function solar batteries are devices which can both harvest solar energy and store it to use later. Each technology is likely to have different uses and understanding the chemistry is important to enhance the best performing devices are available. Chances are there will be a combination of battery technologies that will be available in the future which maybe specially designed for certain application.

How do these batteries fare on the sustainability scale? What benefits can we expect in this space? Also, how can these be recycled?

This is a very interesting question and some of the research in my group is tailored to address this. Lead-acid batteries (the ones found in your car) have a very impressive recycling program but the smaller lithium-ion batteries are struggling with this question. It is not necessary always the science driver that determines some of these aspects, it is also habits. Take for example an old mobile phone, do you throw it away, recycle it or is it in a draw somewhere? 

In terms of chemistry, my group is looking at using recycled materials to see if they can be implemented into batteries. We are also looking at how components in lithium-ion batteries are recycled and whether we can consider 2^nd life batteries or other concepts in this space. Recycling lithium-ion batteries, extracting valuable components and closing the loop are going to become more and more pertinent as more electric vehicles enter the market.

In a world where global warming is taking a big centre stage why is it taking the researchers so much of time and effort to convince the Governments, to switch to more sustainable sources of energy such as battery run plans, equipment, vehicle and appliances? How can your research and its application help in this space? 

My research is looking at making materials that make up functional devices including batteries. My approach is quite simple, if my group and I can make better materials and hence better performing devices then hopefully the technological pull will drive adoption. In other words, I can use materials to drive better technologies which can be better for the environment.

Your research results in chemically tuning the atomic arrangement of solid state materials. This is a potential game changer in material science. Please tell us how the outcome of this research could benefit humanity and life in general?

This is not a potential game-changer and already is. This type of science has already changed our lives. For example, every computer in the world relies on multiple components that have been developed using the approach of chemical tuning. A large number of solid state materials are optimised using this approach and have found numerous uses in society. It already has changed the world and there are so many ways to do more. I am doing this in certain directions and fields and colleagues of mine are doing so in other areas. The idea to is to understand the atomic arrangement and its relationship to properties and then to optimize the arrangement for a particular property.

Could you tell us more about the concept of negative thermal expansion and why it might be important for us to understand this concept? What are the specific benefits?

Although a large fraction of my research is devoted to battery materials, we work on other materials that exhibit interesting properties such as negative thermal expansion (NTE) and superconductivity. My research relies on chemical tuning in order to improve properties.

Most materials expand when heated by a small set of materials contract when heated, the best way to think about this is crumpling – take a can of drink when it is full the volume is large but when you finish drinking it and squash it the volume is smaller. NTE materials have space inside them such that when temperature is increased they crumple rather than expand out. So what we try to do is use various chemical strategies to produce materials that have a controllable thermal expansion. For example, if we place something inside the spaces in these materials (i.e. inside the can) we can modify the thermal collapse or even make it not collapse at all. This becomes critical for components or devices that undergo large temperature changes with use, the thermal expansion of each component is critical to understand. With this knowledge and use of appropriate materials we can extend lifetimes of these components and possibly avoid failure.

We have heard of many types of evolution but your research brings out a new type of evolution – “Structural evolution of electro-chemical systems”. Could you elaborate on this?

Structural evolution here is at the atomic scale. We are interested in understanding how atoms move around inside electrochemical, e.g. batteries, as they are used. Then we can design appropriate materials to optimize performance. In order to store energy and recover it, requires the evolution of the materials inside batteries at the atomic scale. My group can “look” at this process while it happens (at least to a certain extent).

What steps are you taking to realise your goal to help produce high-achieving but well-rounded chemists to revolutionise materials research and development in Australia and elsewhere?

I love science and I love understanding how the world works. I try to translate this passion to my teaching at UNSW and when I engage the wider community. I support my discipline as much as I can and I try to ensure that the students who work with me become passionate scientists.

Tell us about some of the interesting guest lectures you have delivered. What was the level of interest and debate your lecture could generate especially among the younger student generation.  

Recently, I have delivered a few guest lectures to my kid’s primary schools. This has been such a different presentation and I learnt so much from doing this that it is eye-opening. I have also found the kids to be amazing in wanting to understand everything and to learn as much as they can. I can totally relate to this – I want to know more!

What would be the one legacy you would like to leave behind as a result of your research? 

Firstly, a strong and well-rounded group of alumni from my research group that are able to make a difference and continue this work in industry, academia or elsewhere. Secondly, a better understanding of materials from which future generations can improve our knowledge and potentially design new devices. Thirdly, a range of facilities that future chemists can use.