Engineering Nanocarbon Air Cathodes for High-Temperature Solid-State Li-O2 Batteries

[1604392] PI: Wu， GangTitle：高温固态Li-O2电池的纳米碳空气阴极工程Li-air （O2）电池是一种具有高能量密度的下一代储能设备，优于任何传统的电化学电源。这种电池的实际应用受到一些挑战的阻碍，例如催化剂效率低、有机流体电解质易燃性相关的安全问题以及耐久性。将目前电池中使用的易燃有机流体电解质替换为高导电性、阻燃性和坚固性的无机固态电解质，是解决这些问题的关键里程碑。将固态电解质成功地整合到电池技术中，需要了解相关的Li+-O2电化学反应，即固态空气阴极中的氧还原反应（ORR）和进化反应（OER）。该计划将开发一种新型的纳米结构碳金属纳米颗粒复合材料，用于锂氧电池和固态电解质，这将提高锂空气电池的性能和安全性，并有助于理解其他相关电池系统。该项目将重点研究由新型Li3OCl电解质和氮掺杂纳米碳ORR/OER双功能催化剂组成的多孔空气阴极中的固态O2电催化。将执行以下任务：(1)空气阴极中具有良好定义的三相界面（电解质、催化剂和O2）的多孔结构工程；(2)通过协同建模和实验表征工作，阐明固态阴极中温度依赖的O2扩散和Li+输移机制以及电化学反应动力学；(3)设计三维纳米多孔空气阴极结构，为高温Li-O2电化学反应提供高效的质量和电荷传输以及足够的活性和稳定性。除了培养研究生外，pi还计划让本科生和高中生参与研究。

1604392 PI: Wu, GangTitle: Engineering Nanocarbon Air Cathodes for High-Temperature Solid-State Li-O2 BatteriesThe Li-air (O2) battery is a promising next-generation energy storage device with high energy density that is superior to any conventional electrochemical power source. Practical applications of such batteries are hindered by several challenges, e.g., low efficiency of catalysts, safety issues related to flammability of organic fluid electrolytes, and durability. Replacing the flammable organic fluid electrolytes currently used in the batteries with highly Li+ conductive, fire-resistant, and robust inorganic solid-state electrolytes is a critical milestone to address these issues. The successful incorporation of solid-state electrolytes into battery technologies requires an understanding of the associated Li+-O2 electrochemical reactions, i.e., the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and evolution reaction (OER) in solid-state air cathodes. The proposed plan will develop a novel nano-structured, carbon-metal nanoparticle composite for a lithium-oxygen battery with a solid state electrolyte that will improve the performance and safety of Li-air batteries, as well as contribute to the understanding of other related battery systems.The project will focus on studying solid-state O2 electrocatalysis in a porous air cathode consisting of a new Li3OCl electrolyte and a nitrogen-doped nanocarbon ORR/OER bifunctional catalyst. The following tasks will be performed: (1) engineering of porous structures with well-defined three-phase interfaces (electrolyte, catalyst, and O2) in air cathodes, (2) elucidation of temperature-dependent O2 diffusion and Li+ transport mechanisms along with electrochemical reaction kinetics in solid-state cathodes via synergistic modeling and experimental characterization efforts, and (3) design of 3D nanoporous air cathode architectures that provide efficient mass and charge transports along with sufficient activity and stability for high-temperature Li-O2 electrochemical reactions. In addition to training graduate students, the PIs also plan to engage undergraduates and high-school students in research.