EAGER: Carbon Nanotube Templated Battery Electrodes

1027750戴维斯这项研究将开发基于三维图案化碳纳米管复合材料的电化学存储材料。这些复合材料由涂覆有电化学活性材料的图案化垂直排列的碳纳米管（VACNT）模板组成。这些复合材料的一个独特方面是能够同时控制纳米和微米级的结构。这允许垂直对准的分级结构的不同长度尺度的系统变化（即，纳米孔隙率和微米孔隙率），以便影响和控制例如电解质中的固相电子传输和离子传输的相对影响。此外，可以使用多个长度尺度的尺寸控制来创建适应电极循环期间发生的形态变化的结构。简而言之，这项工作将允许PI以以前不可能的方式了解和优化电极结构对储能电极性能的影响。它还有望创造出结构工程化的电极，以实现新一代高性能的电存储设备。这项工作具有潜在的变革性，但也具有很高的风险，因为基于这些新型材料制造功能电池电极的能力尚未得到证明。这项EAGER资助的目的是证明这种电极的可行性，作为更广泛研究的基础，将利用这些独特电极的潜力。这将通过以下方式实现：1）垂直结构化复合材料的合成，包括VACNT模板的图案化和生长以及高能量密度电化学材料的化学气相沉积，以及2）结构化复合材料的电化学循环和表征。这些复合材料的基本微观结构表征也将进行。虽然VACNT模板结构可以应用于各种不同的电极化学，但这项工作将集中在锂离子电池的硅阳极上。硅阳极代表了一个非常具有挑战性的系统，具有巨大的潜力。来自杨百翰大学的跨学科专家团队拥有成功的合作记录，已经聚集起来，以利用这个机会。该团队包括两名在微加工、纳米纤维、微米级和纳米级分析方面具有专长的物理学家，以及一名在电化学、储能材料和系统方面具有专长的化学工程师。其智力优势在于，它引入了基于模板碳纳米管复合材料的潜在变革性电化学材料。待开发的新材料有潜力开发具有高能量密度和高功率密度的储能系统，包括3D电极。需要具有这些特征的能量存储来解决能量产生和输送系统中的各种各样的能量相关问题。这些材料还为了解限制电极性能的结构因素提供了一个良好的控制测试平台，其更广泛的影响包括开发具有重大社会和环境影响潜力的新型储能材料。此外，该项目将涉及在多学科环境中对本科生和研究生进行教育，其中具体培训是储能材料。PI在积极的研究指导环境中涉及本科生的长期记录，并将继续这一努力。

1027750DavisThis research will develop electrochemical storage materials based on three-dimensionally patterned carbon nanotube composites. These composites consist of patterned vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) templates coated with electrochemically active materials. A unique aspect of these composite materials is the ability to control simultaneously the structure on both a nano- and micro-level. This permits systematic variation of the different length scales of the vertically aligned hierarchical structures (i.e., the nano- and micro-porosity) in order to impact and control the relative influence of, for example, solid-phase electron transport and the transport of ions in the electrolyte. In addition, dimensional control at multiple length scales can be used to create structures that accommodate the morphological changes that occur during electrode cycling. In short, this work will allow the PIs to understand and optimize the influence of electrode structure on the performance of energy storage electrodes in a way that has not previously been possible. It also holds the promise of creating structurally engineered electrodes to enable a new generation of high-performance electrical storage devices.This work is potentially transformative, but also high risk as the ability to create functional battery electrodes based on these novel materials has not yet been demonstrated. The purpose of this EAGER grant is to demonstrate the feasibility of such electrodes as the foundation for a more extensive study that will exploit the potential of these unique electrodes. This will be accomplished by: 1) Synthesis of the vertically structured composite including patterning and growth of VACNT templates and chemical vapor deposition of high energy density electrochemical materials, and 2) Electrochemical cycling and characterization of structured composites. Basic microstuctural characterization of these composites will also be performed. While VACNT-templated structures can be applied to a variety of different electrode chemistries, this work will focus on silicon anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Silicon anodes represent a very challenging system that has great potential.An interdisciplinary team of experts from BYU with an established record of successful collaboration has been assembled to take advantage of this opportunity. The team includes two physicists with expertise in microfabrication, nanofabrication, and micro and nanoscale analysis; and a chemical engineer with expertise in electrochemistry and energy storage materials and systems.The intellectual merit is that it introduces potentially transformative electrochemical materials based on templated carbon nanotube composites. The new materials to be developed have the potential to enable the development of energy storage systems with both high energy density and high power density, including 3D electrodes. Energy storage with these characteristics is needed to address a wide variety of energy related issues in energy generation and delivery systems. These materials also provide a well-controlled test bed for fundamental understanding of the structural factors that limit electrode performance.The broader impacts include the development of new energy storage materials with the potential to have significant societal and environmental impact. In addition, the project will involve education of undergraduate and graduate students in a multidisciplinary environment where the specific training is in energy storage materials. The PIs have a long track record of involving undergraduates in a positive research mentoring environment and will continue this effort.