Molecularly Engineered, Targeted O2-Electrodes For Reversible, Nonaqueous Li-Air Batteries

1434696-尼古拉转向环境友好的可再生能源，如太阳能和风能，将需要能源储存技术的重大进步，特别是在交通部门。开发更轻、更低成本的可充电电池将极大地提高电动汽车的实用性和客户吸引力。锂-空气(Li-Air)电池是最有前途的储能技术之一，因为它们理论上可以以低成本提供非常高的能量密度(电池在给定重量下可以存储的能量)。锂空气电池的理论能量密度与汽油相当，远远高于任何其他储能技术。虽然这些系统非常有前景，但它们的性能受到许多因素的显著限制，包括氧(O2)电极的活性和稳定性。在这项建议中，我们采用系统的方法来开发锂空气电池的活性和稳定的氧电极。我们预计，拟议的对照实验研究将带来基本的见解，可以指导高活性和可逆锂空气电池的发展。开发稳定、可逆、接近理论极限的锂空气电池将是储能技术的重大突破。本项工作的目的是开发多功能锂空气电池氧电极，其目标是控制其活性和稳定性的两个重要化学步骤：(I)Li+扩散，(Ii)充电过程中析氧反应(OER)的激活。受控的电化学和光谱学研究将被用来获得关于目标电化学/化学步骤对锂空气电池氧电极电化学的影响的重要的基本见解。我们预计，拟议的工作将对稳定和高效的锂空气电池的发展产生重大影响。发展分子工程靶电极的系统方法可以推广到其他电化学体系。除了科学影响，这项拟议的研究还将成为韦恩州立大学(WSU)来自少数族裔的本科生的学习工具。PI还与当地K-12学校合作，通过暑期实习让K-12学生参与研究，并激励他们在科学和工程领域追求职业生涯。在与NSF赞助的获得选择-女孩调查现实生活计划的合作下，PI还提议组织？能源和环境？日营，在那里将向初中和高中女孩介绍与能源和环境有关的研究。PI计划利用从这个项目中获得的基本电化学见解，为专注于电化学基础的高年级本科生和研究生设计一门课程。

1434696 - NikollaA shift toward environmentally friendly, renewable energy sources such as the sun and the wind will require major advancements in energy storage technologies especially for the transportation sector. The utility and customer appeal of electric automobiles would be greatly enhanced by development of lighter-weight, lower-cost, rechargeable batteries. Lithium-air (Li-air) batteries are among the most promising energy storage technologies because they can theoretically provide very high energy density (amount of energy the battery can store for a given weight) at a low cost. The theoretical energy density of Li-air batteries is comparable to that of gasoline, and much higher than that of any other energy storage technologies. While these systems are very promising, their performance is significantly limited by a number of factors, including the activity and stability of the oxygen (O2) electrode. In this proposal, we employ a systematic approach to develop active and stable oxygen electrodes for Li-air batteries. We anticipate that the proposed controlled experimental studies will lead to fundamental insights that can guide the development of highly active and reversible Li-air batteries. Development of stable, reversible Li-air batteries that operate near the theoretical limit will provide a major breakthrough in the energy storage technology.The aim of the proposed worked is to develop multifunctional oxygen electrodes for Li-air batteries that target two important chemical steps that govern their activity and stability: (i) Li+ diffusion, and (ii) the activation of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during the charging process. Controlled electrochemical and spectroscopy studies will be utilized to obtain important fundamental insights on the effect of the targeted electrochemical/chemical steps on the electrochemistry at the oxygen electrode of Li-air batteries. We anticipate that the proposed work will have a significant impact toward the development of stable and efficient Li-air batteries. The systematic approach on developing molecularly engineered, target electrodes can be extended to other electrochemical systems. In addition to the scientific impact, the proposed research will become a learning tool for undergraduate students from underrepresented minorities at Wayne State University (WSU). The PI has also partnered with local K-12 schools to involve K-12 students with the research through summer internships and inspire them to pursue careers in science and engineering. In collaboration with the NSF-sponsored Gaining Options-Girls Investigate Real Life program, the PI also proposes to organize ?Energy and Environment? day camps, where middle and high school girls will be introduced to research related to energy and environment. The PI plans to use the fundamental electrochemical insights obtained from this project to design a course for senior undergraduate and graduate students focused on the Fundamentals of Electrochemistry.