Operando imaging of solid state electrochemical interfaces using scanning thermo-ionic microscopy

在化学系化学测量和成像计划的支持下，华盛顿大学(UW)的Adler和Li教授正在开发一种新的强大的成像方法-扫描热离子显微镜，以帮助更好地了解充电电池或燃料电池的工作原理，并改进寿命更长的下一代电池的设计。这项技术提供了关于电荷和离子在液体和表面界面上如何运动以及它们的运动如何由材料组成的变化决定的独特信息。在更广泛的影响方面，Adler教授和Li教授向密歇根大学的学生提供了一门新的动手实验室课程，教他们如何使用新的理论和软件工具来进行电化学成像。西雅图布莱恩特小学的教职员工和他们的学生都在不断地参加“动手，思考”项目，该项目向四、五年级的学生以及当地的高中生介绍基于假设的研究方法。阿德勒教授和李教授还参加了华盛顿清洁能源研究所(CEI)，通过CEI课程提供了一门面向广泛受众的高级能源材料课程。在这个项目中，Adler和Li教授开发了一种实时扫描热电子显微镜(STIM)成像工具，以改进燃料电池或充电电池的设计，以获得更有效和更高效的能量存储介质。这种成像方法可以在与电化学反应相关的时间尺度上(10^(-6)~1s)深入了解材料。它提供了一种根据局部反应和传输速率定量提取时间-空间信息的独特能力，这对于了解电荷如何通过界面流动以及活动界面在动态应变下如何响应至关重要。这些信息有助于更好地定量了解结构和组成的局部变化如何导致在电化学材料中观察到的整体系统行为。这两个团体都积极参与学生培训和当地小学和高中的外展活动，并通过参与华盛顿清洁能源研究所(CEI)。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professors Adler and Li at the University of Washington (UW) are developing a new and powerful imaging method, scanning thermo-ionic microscopy, to help better understanding how rechargeable batteries or fuel cells work and to improve the design of the next generation of batteries with longer lives. This technique provides unique information about how charges and ions move at a liquid and surface interface and how their movement is decided by variations in the composition of materials. In terms of broader impacts, Professors Adler and Li offer a new hands-on laboratory course to UW students on using new theory and software tools for electrochemical imaging. Both faculty members and their students continuously participate in the "Hands-On, Minds-On" program at Seattle's Bryant Elementary School, which introduces hypothesis-based research approaches to 4th and 5th graders, as well as to local high school students. Professors Adler and Li also participate in the Washington Clean-Energy Institute (CEI) by offering a broad audience-based course on advanced materials for energy through the CEI curriculum. In this project, Professors Adler and Li develop a real time scanning thermionic microscopy (STIM) imaging tool to improve the design of fuel cells or rechargeable batteries for more effective and efficient energy storage media. The imaging method can gain insight about materials at time scales relevant to electrochemical reactions (10^(-6) ~ 1s). It offers a unique capability to extract temporal-spatial information quantitatively in terms of local reaction and transport rates, which is essential in understanding how charges flow across an interface and how an active interface responds under dynamic strain. The information leads to better quantitative understanding of how local variations in structure and composition result in overall system behavior observed in electrochemical materials. Both groups' are actively engaged in student training and outreach activities to local elementary and high schools, and through participation in the Washington Clean-Energy Institute (CEI).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.