Welcome to the Geaney Research Group @ UL

The group is working to develop new materials for energy storage applications. The research is focused on Li-ion & beyond Li-ion batteries, with specific focus on materials characterization & design.

Featured Recent Publications

Diagram showing steps in film formation on a metal surface, including lithium metal plating, nucleation, and growth process, with atomic and molecular representations.

Silicon/Graphite Composite Host for Tuned Lithiophilicity in Li Metal Anodes

J. Mater Chem, 2025 A Just Accepted

Diagram illustrating the synthesis process of copper-silicon nanowires and their structural analysis. A, shows initial layered materials heated at 36.5°C for 40 minutes. B, depicts the formation of copper silicide nanowires after heating at 35°C for 30 minutes. C, presents further growth into cubes, and D, shows branched nanostructures. E, is a scanning electron microscopy image of the Cu15Si4 nanowires, with labels for various structures. F, displays X-ray diffraction patterns of different copper silicide phases.

Revealing Seed‐Mediated Structural Evolution of Copper‐Silicide Nanostructures: Generating Structured Current Collectors for Rechargeable Batteries

Adv. Mater. 2024, 36,23, 2310823

Comparison of sandwich structures in different battery interlayers showing lithium deposition; on the left, a CC interlayer with lithium on a cycled LiC C anode leading to non-uniform lithium deposits; on the right, a GeCC interlayer with uniform lithium deposits on a cycled LiGeCC anode.

Lithiophilic interlayer driven ‘bottom-up’metal infilling in high current density Li-metal anodes

Journal of Materials Chemistry A 12 (20), 12250-12261

Diagram of silicon nanowire technology illustrating perspectives beyond LIBs, model system, and practical Li-ion anode applications with icons of wind turbines, cars, and electronics.

Si nanowires: From model system to practical Li-ion anode material and beyond

ACS Energy Letters, 2024, 9 (4), 1548-1561

Recent Group News

  • Visit of Minister Lawless to AMPEiRE lab, with Associate Professor Hugh Geaney and Bernal Director Professor Sarah Hudson

    Minister Lawless Visit

    May 2025- Visit of Minister Lawless to AMPEiRE Research Centre

  • Royal Society of Chemistry recognition for outstanding peer reviewers of 2024, featuring a dark background with colorful bubbles.

    Energy & Environmental Science 2024

    April 2025- Hugh Selected as Outstanding Reviewer for E&ES 2024

    View List

  • Postdoc Position July 2025

    Join the group.

    Apply Now
  • Marco standing in front of banners and a large black-and-white portrait of John Desmond Bernal in an indoor space. The banners display logos and text related to University of Limerick and research themes.

    Marco PhD Defense

    July 2024- Congrats to Dr Marco for successfully defending his PhD thesis!

  • SiGNE project consortium during meeting in Innsbruck

    SiGNE Project Meeting

    April 2025- SiGNE project meeting in Innsbruck

    Meeting Details
  • AMPEIRE infographic with seven segments, each numbered 01 to 07, representing different concepts like battery power, communication, energy, ideas, recycling, and data analysis.

    AMPEiRE Launch

    April 2025- AMPEiRE Research Centre Kick-off

    AMPeire Centre
  • Hugh giving a presentation at the University of Limerick, standing at a podium with microphone, gesturing with his right hand.

    UL RW 2025

    May 2025- AMPEiRE Research Week Event

    Event Video

  • Maryam's Paper Accepted in JMCA

    June-2025- Si/Gr hosts for Li metal battery anodes

    Link to Paper
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