Collaborative Research: Developing Advanced Magnesium Electrolytes Toward Low Cost, High Energy Density Mg Batteries

在这个合作项目中，该团队将研究先进的镁(Mg)电解液，促进新型(非锂)低成本和高性能充电电池的开发。为了应对消费电子、电动汽车和清洁能源储存快速增长的储能需求，迫切需要比最先进的锂离子电池具有更好储能性能的先进可充电电池。镁是一种极具吸引力的负极材料，因为它具有高充电容量、温和的反应性、国内可获得性和低成本。然而，高性能镁离子导电电解液的缺乏一直是发展实用化镁电池的主要技术障碍。该项目的成果将为开发适用于便携式设备、电动汽车和可再生能源储存的合格和高能量密度的镁电池铺平道路，从而减少对化石燃料的依赖及其对环境的不利影响，促进社会的可持续发展。该项目整合了旨在促进高中生和本科生的研究经验和科学视野的推广活动，特别强调未被充分代表的人群的参与。基础研究侧重于开发先进的无氯镁频铝硼酸盐电解液，同时建立对所设计的镁电解液的结构-性质关系的基本理解。该项目将通过一种综合的实验和计算方法，对所设计的无氯镁频铝硼酸盐电解液与镁阳极和镁离子插层/插入阴极材料的界面和/或插层化学有新的深入的理解。由于目前对镁电池的认识明显落后于锂离子电池，该项目将为开发具有竞争力的高能量密度镁电池电化学储能技术提供坚实的知识基础。此外，所获得的基础知识也将有助于其他多价电池技术的发展，如钙和铝电池。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。

In this collaborative project, the team will research advanced magnesium (Mg)-based electrolytes facilitating the development of novel (non-Lithium-based) low-cost and high-performance rechargeable batteries. In response to rapidly increasing energy storage demands of consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and clean energy storage, there is an urgent call for advanced rechargeable batteries with superior energy storage performance compared to state-of-the-art Li ion batteries. Magnesium is a highly attractive anode material due to its high charge capacity, mild reactivity, domestic availability, and low-cost. However, the lack of high-performance Mg2+ ion conductive electrolytes has been a primary technical hurdle for developing practical Mg batteries. The outcomes of this project will pave the way to develop competent and high energy density Mg batteries for applications in portable devices, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage, thereby alleviating reliance on fossil fuels and their adverse environmental impacts and enhancing the sustainable development of our society. This project integrates outreach activities aimed at promoting research experience and scientific vision of high school and undergraduate students, particularly emphasizing the involvement of underrepresented populations.The fundamental research focuses on developing advanced Cl-free magnesium pinacolatoborate electrolytes while establishing a fundamental understanding of the structure-property relationship of designed Mg electrolytes. The project will result in new in depth understanding of the interfacial and/or intercalation chemistry of the designed Cl-free magnesium pinacolatoborate electrolytes with Mg anode and Mg ion intercalation/insertion cathode materials through an integrated experimental and computational approach. Since current understanding of Mg batteries significantly lags that of Li-ion batteries, this project will yield a substantial knowledge foundation to develop competent high energy density Mg battery technologies for electrochemical energy storage. In addition, the gained fundamental knowledge will also benefit the development of other multivalent battery technologies such as calcium and aluminum batteries.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.