Maksym Kovalenko
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maksymuki.bsky.social
Maksym Kovalenko
@maksymuki.bsky.social
Professor at ETH Zurich and Empa
Solid-state electrolytes (SSE) are the cornerstone of the solid state battery. They must be included also into the positive electrode architecture.
What are our current choices, pros and cons of each? We discuss that in our latest perspective in ACS Energy Letters.

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Navigating the Catholyte Landscape in All-Solid-State Batteries
All-solid-state batteries are widely regarded as the next frontier in electrochemical energy storage, offering the potential to surpass the energy density and safety limits of conventional lithium-ion batteries. Among the factors governing their performance, paramount are the choice and functionality of the solid-state electrolyte (SSE) as a catholyte within the composite positive electrode. This perspective critically examines the applicability and potential of the three most intensively studied inorganic SSE families, namely oxides, sulfides, and chlorides, as catholytes. We discuss their respective advantages, limitations, and compatibility with common cathode active materials, as well as the remaining knowledge gaps. We then assess whether any of the current SSE classes can be employed as a stand-alone SSE for all-solid-state batteries, or whether composite architectures combining multiple SSEs will ultimately be required.
pubs.acs.org
December 25, 2025 at 6:50 AM
A new highly relevant application of inorganic lead halide perovskites from our group, as a LIDAR sensor, leveraging their light absorption and defect-tolerant electronic properties, particularly fast photoconductivity transients.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Perovskite‐based time‐domain signal‐balancing LiDAR sensor with centimeter depth resolution
In this study, we present a monolithic high-speed perovskite-based photodetector capable of directly sensing the time delay between two light pulses with a temporal resolution of at least 170 ps. Thi...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:00 AM
solid-state NMR captures much more information about our materials, then we can fully see and comprehend. an everlasting learning curve.

pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
8+ years of this project, with long breaks, yielding novel route to InAs QDs.
Such acylpnictide precursors are scalable, inexpensive and versatile.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Air‐Stable Aluminum Tris[Bis(mesitoyl)Arsenide] Precursor for Metal Arsenide Quantum Dots
Aluminum tris[bis(mesitoyl)arsenide]: a new enin metal–arsenide QD synthesis.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Our battery folks work only on hard problems - that is all-solid-state batteries. Each such step matters to eventually devise an architecture with good interfaces, practical energy and power densities.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Dual-Layer Li Metal All-Solid-State Battery Based on an Argyrodite-type Li6PS5Cl Catholyte and a Garnet-type Li7La3Zr2O12 Separator
The integration of argyrodite-type Li6PS5Cl (LPSCl) solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) in solid-state batteries faces significant challenges due to their chemical reactivity with lithium metal, which pre...
pubs.acs.org
October 22, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by Maksym Kovalenko
Organizers @mvkovalenko,Grigorios Itskos & @M_Bodnarchuk kick off #EMLEM25 @nanoGe_Conf with inspiring opening remarks!

Ready to dive into Perovskite, III-V & Zn-Chalcogenide QDs, IR-emissive nanomaterials, Metal Halides and 2D light-emitting materials

🔗https://www.nanoge.org/EMLEM24/home
October 8, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Reposted by Maksym Kovalenko
🙌Following an inspiring morning at #EMLEM25, the community gathered for a group photo.

📸 Excited to explore the latest advances in light-emitting materials and their innovative applications.

Inspiring sessions ahead!

🔗https://www.nanoge.org/EMLEM25/home
October 8, 2025 at 11:31 AM
This paper concludes the chapter on cationic ligands for perovskite nanocrystals. or not? We will see. It also sorts diverse ligands based on how tightly and how dynamically they bind.

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
September 18, 2025 at 5:54 AM
In this article, we aim to guide the proper characterization of emerging materials as X-ray detectors, particularly for low-dose imaging applications.
Kudos, in particular, to K.Sakhatskyi and S. Yakunin ,
In partnership with Prof. Jinsong Huang
advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Characterizing Emerging Detector Materials for Low‐Dose X‐Ray Imaging
X-ray medical imaging requires detectors that deliver images at as low as reasonably possible dose. This perspective outlines a universal characterization framework of X-ray imaging detectors, suitab...
advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 11, 2025 at 1:04 PM
This monumental effort, undertaken by many outstanding co-authors, including several invited speakers from the Nanax 2023 conference, which we co-organized, is now online.
Special kudos to Maria Ibáñez and her team.

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Prospects of Nanoscience with Nanocrystals: 2025 Edition
Nanocrystals (NCs) of various compositions have made important contributions to science and technology, with their impact recognized by the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and synthesis of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Over four decades of research into NCs has led to numerous advancements in diverse fields, such as optoelectronics, catalysis, energy, medicine, and recently, quantum information and computing. The last 10 years since the predecessor perspective “Prospect of Nanoscience with Nanocrystals” was published in ACS Nano have seen NC research continuously evolve, yielding critical advances in fundamental understanding and practical applications. Mechanistic insights into NC formation have translated into precision control over NC size, shape, and composition. Emerging synthesis techniques have broadened the landscape of compounds obtainable in colloidal NC form. Sophistication in surface chemistry, jointly bolstered by theoretical models and experimental findings, has facilitated refined control over NC properties and represents a trusted gateway to enhanced NC stability and processability. The assembly of NCs into superlattices, along with two-dimensional (2D) photolithography and three-dimensional (3D) printing, has expanded their utility in creating materials with tailored properties. Applications of NCs are also flourishing, consolidating progress in fields targeted early on, such as optoelectronics and catalysis, and extending into areas ranging from quantum technology to phase-change memories. In this perspective, we review the extensive progress in research on NCs over the past decade and highlight key areas where future research may bring further breakthroughs.
pubs.acs.org
September 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Another paper form our team, advancing novel quantum light sources. Single Perovksite QDs can produce not only single photons on demand, but also degenerate photon pairs.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Energy-Degenerate Photon-Pair Generation from Individual CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots
Beyond single-photon emission, generating correlated N-photon bundles, e.g., a photon pair, is essential for various quantum technologies including quantum teleportation and metrology. A widely explored approach exploits the radiative biexciton cascade in individual (mainly epitaxially grown) quantum dots (QDs). Here, we investigate such a cascade in colloidal CsPbBr3 QDs, a scalable and solution-processable quantum-light emitter. By matching their size-dependent biexciton binding energies to their size-independent phonon energies, we demonstrate the generation of time-correlated and energy-degenerate photon pairs in large (>15 nm) QDs. Under pulsed excitation at 4 K, we observe pronounced photon bunching, with a g(2)(0) of up to 7 in Hanbury Brown and Twiss measurements. The excitation-density-dependent bunching is quantitatively reproduced by multicolor numerical calculations, suggesting the cascade involving biexciton and phonon-mediated exciton decay as origin of the photon pair. Our findings provide new insights into energy-degenerate photon-pair generation in these highly engineerable quantum-light emitters, marking important steps toward their application in quantum-information technologies.
pubs.acs.org
September 3, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Critical current density measurements of Li/solid-state electrolyte anodes: Time for a rethink
Please see our article in Matter:
www.cell.com/matter/abstr...
Critical current density measurements of Li/solid-state electrolyte anodes: Time for a rethink
Critical current density (CCD) measurements are widely used to assess the electrochemical performance of Li metal anodes paired with solid-state electrolytes. Nonetheless, the lack of consensus on the...
www.cell.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:34 PM
To perspective candidates. The Committee had started the evaluation, but further applications will still be accepted for an equal consideration, at least until September 21st.
September 1, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Cover Art images from the papers of our team and some great collaborations.
"Green chemistry" has prevailed in recent years
August 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
We continue exploring novel ligands for perovskite nanocrystals. Almost done with cationic ones...

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Designer Sulfonium-Based Capping Ligands for Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals
The ongoing quest for improved capping ligands for lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (LHP NCs) is fueled by the immense potential of these emitters as classical and quantum light sources. Herein, we...
pubs.acs.org
July 23, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Stable, Room-Temperature, Low-Threshold Amplified Spontaneous Emission from Thermally Evaporated Cesium Lead Halide Perovskites | ACS Nano

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Stable, Room-Temperature, Low-Threshold Amplified Spontaneous Emission from Thermally Evaporated Cesium Lead Halide Perovskites
Semiconductor nanocrystals are widely investigated as tunable quantum emitters due to their composition-, size- and shape-dependent optical properties, and they find applications in various optoelectr...
pubs.acs.org
July 16, 2025 at 1:20 PM
On the Feasibility of Pairing Pyrochlore Iron(III) Hydroxy Fluoride Cathode with Argyrodite Li6PS5Cl Solid‐State Electrolyte for Low‐Cost All‐Solid‐State Batteries
chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 16, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by Maksym Kovalenko
Only 10 days left!
⏰ @ all supervisors of PhD students in Switzerland. Please see below. And please spread the word.
📢PhD Award Alert! 🏆
Dear PhD advisors: did your student(s) recently (Jan 2024 - May 2025) defend their thesis in Switzerland in #materials #chemistry ? Then please consider nominating them for our SCS MatChem PhD Student Award, by 15 July: scg.ch/scg-news/new...
@swisschemistry.bsky.social
Swiss Chemical Society - SCS MatChem PhD Student Award: Call for nominations 2025
scg.ch
July 5, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Our squad of Invited speakers at ICMAT 2025.
July 2, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Very rarely do materials check all the boxes for a competitive and practical utility as a commercial cathode material for Li-ion batteries. Li-Fe-halides offer this promise, particularly (and uniquely) for all-solid-state batteries. Our recent contribution:
chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
June 30, 2025 at 8:34 AM