Missouri S&T students stand out at the Missouri Center for Advanced Power Summit (MOCAP) on March 7 at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri. Tazdik Patwary Plateau placed first and Kiernan O’Boyle grabbed second in graduate poster presentations. Mackenzie Hilburn secured third for her undergraduate poster presentation. Their work takes on major hurdles in the electric vehicle realm.

Plateau’s research examines crafting electrodes for batteries with unmatched energy and power densities, promising a leap forward in battery performance. He is a doctoral student in mechanical engineering and is advised by Dr. Jonghyun Park, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

O’Boyle, a doctoral student studying mechanical engineering, introduced CQtCV, a fast-charging algorithm slashing lithium-ion battery charging time to under eight minutes, while keeping capacity intact.

On the safety front, Hilburn, a junior in aerospace engineering, explored solid polymer electrolytes as a safer option than volatile liquid ones, aiming for improved lithium-ion conductivity through advanced boron nitride nanosheet production. Her research was supported by Gracie Boyer, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering.

MOCAP is a non-profit consortium that includes Missouri-based battery and power companies as well as universities. The group’s mission is to research new battery technology and prepare a high-tech workforce for the future. Other institutions showcasing their research at the event were the University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri State University and Missouri Southern State University.