CAREER: Interfacial Transformations in Ceramic Ion Conductors for Solid-State Batteries

非技术描述：与锂离子电池相比，可充电固态电池具有高能量密度和提高安全性的潜力，因此对电动汽车和移动应用具有吸引力。尽管最近开发了用于锂离子快速传导的新型陶瓷材料，但这些电池系统尚未商业化。一个主要的突出问题是，离子导电陶瓷与电池内其他材料之间的固态界面不稳定，这导致电池寿命较差。为了解决这一挑战，本研究使用新颖的实验技术来实时了解界面退化过程，并确定如何保护这些界面免受退化。这一基本认识对于制造可靠、持久的固态电池至关重要。这项工作正在由研究生和本科生进行，他们正在接受能源应用材料科学方面的培训。此外，这项研究还包括一项教育倡议，其中正在与一名高中教师合作开发新的高中课程。课程侧重于以与高中生日常生活相关的方式整合材料和能源科学。这些新的学习工具将更好地为来自未被充分代表的群体的高中生在科学和工程领域的职业生涯做好准备。技术细节：碱金属基固态电池中陶瓷电解质界面的界面转变和不稳定性通常会导致阻抗增加和循环寿命缩短。本研究的目的是了解固态电池中陶瓷电解质界面的结构、化学和形态的时空演变，并确定这些因素如何影响陶瓷电解质的离子电导率和稳定性。多种原位实验技术被用于在电池运行前和运行过程中探测陶瓷电解质/碱金属界面的纳米级转变，并研究了定制保护层对界面转变的影响。通过首次直接揭示陶瓷电解质界面的纳米级转变，该研究有助于为稳定下一代固态电池的关键界面奠定科学基础，从而实现卓越的新能源存储技术。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Rechargeable solid-state batteries are attractive for electric vehicles and mobile applications because of their high energy density and their potential for improved safety compared to lithium-ion batteries. Despite the recent development of new ceramic materials for fast conduction of lithium ions, these battery systems are not yet commercialized. A major outstanding problem is that the solid-state interfaces between the ion-conducting ceramics and other materials within the battery are unstable, which leads to poor battery lifetimes. To address this challenge, this research uses novel experimental techniques to understand interface degradation processes in real time and to determine how to protect these interfaces from degradation. This fundamental understanding is critical for the creation of reliable, long-lasting solid-state batteries. This work is being performed by both graduate and undergraduate students, who are being trained in the science of materials for energy applications. Furthermore, this research includes an educational initiative in which new high school curriculum is being developed in collaboration with a high school teacher. The curriculum is focused on integrating materials and energy sciences in ways that are relevant to high school students' daily lives. These new learning tools will better prepare high school students from underrepresented groups for careers in science and engineering.TECHNICAL DETAILS: Interfacial transformations and instabilities at ceramic electrolyte interfaces in alkali metal-based solid-state batteries often cause increased impedance and reduced cycle life. The goal of this research is to understand the spatiotemporal evolution of structure, chemistry, and morphology at ceramic electrolyte interfaces within solid-state batteries, and to determine how these factors influence the ionic conductivity and stability of ceramic electrolytes. Multiple in situ experimental techniques are being used to probe nanoscale transformations at ceramic electrolyte/alkali metal interfaces before and during battery operation, and the influence of tailored protection layers on interfacial transformations are also being examined. By directly revealing nanoscale transformations at ceramic electrolyte interfaces for the first time, this research is helping to create the scientific foundation for stabilizing critical interfaces in next-generation solid-state batteries, thereby enabling superior new energy storage technologies.