NSF-BSF: Unraveling Link between Interfacial Properties and Chemo-Mechanical Performance of Na-ion Cathode Materials via Surface Modification Approaches

非技术摘要：对可再生能源和相关储能技术的需求增加，迫使社会使电池化学成分多样化。锂的相对稀缺性和成本导致人们对可充电钠离子电池的兴趣与日俱增。不幸的是，由于电极上的界面不稳定性，钠离子电池的实际性能受到循环寿命较短的影响。该项目由NSF材料研究部的固态和材料化学计划以及化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统部门的电化学系统计划联合支持，旨在确定人造表面涂层的理想特性，以减轻界面不稳定性。这些知识为通过调整阴极的界面性质来提高钠离子电池的电化学性能提供了指导。通过美国和以色列研究人员之间的合作研究机会，该项目建立了国际合作模式，共享互补资源，从不同背景开发宝贵的视角，并加快共同进步，以解决全球在能源技术方面的利益。该项目不仅促进了研究的整合，也促进了教育活动的整合，例如，通过讲习班，为来自美国代表不足的群体的当地高中生和来自IL方面的不同国籍的高中生提供研究经验。技术摘要：该合作项目由NSF材料研究部的固态和材料化学计划以及化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统部门的电化学系统计划联合支持，确定了导致机械化学稳定性的关键界面属性，并建立了材料工程策略，以优化钠离子存储的氧化还原可逆性。美国和以色列的主要研究人员调查了人造表面涂层的性质与钠离子阴极的化学机械不稳定性之间的耦合。通过三种不同的推进方式，选择了聚阴离子型阴极和高熵氧化物阴极作为模型阴极材料。该推进器通过原子层沉积的方法开发了钠离子导电人工表面涂层，并研究了其在钠环境中的电化学稳定性。第二个重点阐明了表面涂层对阴极结构和界面不稳定性的作用。在最后的推力下，研究人员确定了表面涂层对阴极倍率能力的影响。在分析模型的支持下，利用曲率干涉、数字图像相关和在线电化学质谱学技术来探测Na离子阴极中的动态变化。该项目的成果预计将推进使用界面工程方法的阴极机械力化学稳定的概念。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。

Non-technical abstract:The increased demand for renewable energy sources and associated energy storage technologies is forcing society to diversify battery chemistries. The relative scarcity and cost of lithium have resulted in increasing interest in rechargeable sodium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, the practical performance of sodium-ion batteries suffers from short cycle life due to interfacial instabilities on the electrodes. This project, jointly supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in NSF’s Division of Materials Research and the Electrochemical Systems program in the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems, aims to identify desirable properties of the artificial surface coatings for mitigating interfacial instabilities. Such knowledge provides guidance to improve the electrochemical performance of sodium-ion batteries by tuning interfacial properties of cathodes. Through collaborative research opportunities between U.S. and Israeli researchers, this project establishes the international cooperation model on sharing complementary resources, developing invaluable depth of perspective from diverse backgrounds, and accelerating joint progress to address global interests in energy technologies. The project not only fosters integration of research but also of educational activities, for example, through workshops, and research experiences for local high school students from underrepresented groups on the US side, and from various nationalities on the IL side. The outreach efforts are aimed at strengthening the pipeline of talent for material chemists and engineers for battery technologies.Technical abstract:This collaborative project, which is jointly supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in NSF’s Division of Materials Research and the Electrochemical Systems program in the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems, identifies key interfacial properties that induce mechano-chemical stability and establish material engineering strategies for optimizing redox reversibility for Na-ion storage. The principal investigators in the US and Israel investigate the coupling between the properties of artificial surface coatings and chemo-mechanical instabilities in Na-ion cathodes. Polyanionic-type cathodes and high entropy oxide cathodes are chosen as model cathode materials through three specific thrusts. The thrust develops Na-ion-conducting artificial surface coatings by atomic layer deposition and investigates their electro-chemical stability in the Na environment. The second thrust elucidates the role of surface coatings on the structural and interfacial instabilities of cathodes. With the last thrust, the researchers identify the impact of surface coatings on the rate capability of cathodes. Curvature interferometry, digital image correlation and online electrochemical mass spectroscopy techniques, supported by an analytical model, are utilized to probe in-operando dynamic changes in the Na-ion cathodes. The outcome of the project is expected to advance the concept of mechano-chemical stabilization of cathodes using an interfacial engineering approach.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.