GOALI: In Situ Electron Microscopy Studies of Zinc Electrodeposition for Secondary Battery Applications

GOALI：二次电池应用中锌电沉积的原位电子显微镜研究

• 批准号: 1310639
• 负责人: Suneel Kumar Kodambaka
• 金额: $ 37万
• 依托单位: University of California-Los Angeles
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1310639&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: GOALI; Situ; Electron; Microscopy; Studies

This IBM-UCLA-LLNL collaborative research aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the kinetics of nucleation, growth, and stability of electrodeposited zinc (Zn) thin films for applications in batteries. Rechargeable batteries, starting with lead-acid batteries, have been integral part of our society. With the surge in consumer electronics along with the recent demand for clean, sustainable energy, recyclable and rechargeable batteries have received renewed attention. Among the several possible candidate systems, zinc-alkaline and zinc-air batteries are attractive owing to their stability, safety, and cost. However, a major challenge impeding the realization of Zn-based rechargeable battery technology is the formation of high-aspect-ratio Zn dendrites and porous thin films, which reduce performance and operation life time. Progress in this area requires a basic understanding of the factors affecting the morphological evolution during electrodeposition at multiple length scales. This research addresses this issue via electrodeposition of zinc in situ in a transmission electron microscope and in situ in an optical microscope using Hele-Shaw cell geometries, which allow imaging of the interfacial structure during charge and discharge cycles. The acquisition of data as a function of solution chemistry and electrodepostion parameters enables the development of mechanistic insights into factors influencing the formation of smooth Zn thin films, an essential criterion for the realization of rechargeable batteries. In addition to advancing knowledge important for the development of Zn-based rechargeable batteries, contributions to the society include training of future scientists and engineers with broader awareness of national laboratory and industrial research activities. This collaborative research provides to the postdoctoral scholars and students at UCLA opportunities for interactions with eminent scientists from industry (IBM) and national laboratory (LLNL), hands-on training on some of the most sophisticated state-of-the-art characterization tools, and exposure to industry's perspective on energy-related research.

这项IBM-UCLA-LLNL合作研究旨在对电池中应用的电沉积锌（Zn）薄膜的成核，生长和稳定性动力学进行基本了解。 从铅酸电池开始，可充电电池已经成为我们社会不可或缺的一部分。随着消费电子产品的激增，沿着而来的是对清洁、可持续能源的需求，可回收和可充电电池重新受到关注。在几种可能的候选系统中，锌-碱性和锌-空气电池由于其稳定性、安全性和成本而具有吸引力。 然而，阻碍锌基可充电电池技术实现的主要挑战是形成高纵横比的锌枝晶和多孔薄膜，这降低了性能和操作寿命。在这方面的进展，需要一个基本的了解在电沉积过程中的形态演变的影响因素在多个长度尺度。本研究通过在透射电子显微镜中原位电沉积锌和在光学显微镜中原位电沉积锌来解决这个问题，所述光学显微镜使用Hele-Shaw电池几何形状，其允许在充电和放电循环期间对界面结构进行成像。作为溶液化学和电沉积参数的函数的数据的采集使得能够发展到影响平滑Zn薄膜的形成的因素的机械见解，这是实现可充电电池的基本标准。 除了推进知识的重要性，锌基可充电电池的发展，对社会的贡献包括未来的科学家和工程师的培训，国家实验室和工业研究活动的更广泛的认识。这项合作研究为加州大学洛杉矶分校的博士后学者和学生提供了与来自行业（IBM）和国家实验室（LLNL）的杰出科学家进行互动的机会，对一些最先进的表征工具进行实践培训，并接触到行业对能源相关研究的观点。