Dr. Sanja Tepavcevic

Argonne National Laboratory

Dr. Sanja Tepavcevic is a materials scientist at Argonne National Laboratory specializing in aqueous battery technologies, with a focus on zinc-ion systems and electrolyte–interface engineering. Her work integrates electrochemistry, advanced characterization, and molecular modeling to uncover structure–property relationships at electrochemical interfaces and to translate fundamental insights into practical performance gains.

Her research demonstrates that tailoring cation–solvent–anion associations in aqueous electrolytes can precisely direct both anode and cathode processes. At the zinc metal anode, tuning hydration and coordination lowers desolvation barriers and nucleation overpotentials, promoting uniform, compact deposits and suppressing dendrites, corrosion, and hydrogen evolution through stabilized interphases. At the cathode, adjusting electrolyte solvation and water activity improves charge transfer and ion insertion, informing design guidelines that enhance conductivity and transport while stabilizing cycling behavior. These advances provide mechanistic rules for improving ion transport and electrode–electrolyte compatibility across aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Beyond her research, Tepavcevic has organized workshops and symposiums at major conferences dedicated to aqueous batteries, helping shape community priorities and best practices while building collaboration across academia, national laboratories, and industry. She has also contributed to broader technology strategy efforts on zinc-based energy storage. Her intellectual property portfolio includes patents related to aqueous batteries and high-capacity electrode materials, reflecting impact from fundamental discovery through device-relevant innovation.