Crossing Boundaries in Energy Storage

今天的能源储存比历史上任何时候都更重要。约25%的二氧化碳排放来自运输过程中燃烧化石燃料。人们普遍认为，交通运输脱碳势在必行，并涉及电气化。交通运输电气化面临的最大挑战是能源储存。虽然电动和插电式混合动力汽车（EV）将在未来十年内越来越多地与我们在一起，但利用现在和短期内可用的存储技术（锂离子电池），实现行驶里程的阶跃变化（例如，经常提到的圣杯+300英里）是不可能的。在这里，我们建议研究远远超出当前水平的储能技术，并有可能为电动汽车的性能带来一步改变。我们特别专注于锂空气电池，氢和氧存储，符合呼叫范围。这些技术符合未来混合动力电动汽车的整体愿景，其中锂空气电池，氢燃料电池（或氨燃料电池）和可逆燃料电池（有效地氢氧电池）发挥关键作用。锂空气电池有潜力存储比当前一代锂电池更多的能量，但仍需克服主要障碍。在这里，我们解决了锂空气电池阶跃变化所面临的一些关键障碍，开启了通往实用之路，从长远来看，空气电池能够大大延长行驶里程，并且成本比现在更低，因此改变了交通运输。同样，我们通过一系列协调一致的方法来解决氢存储的关键挑战，以确定符合转换标准的固态存储器。移动的氢存储以用于运输。我们还研究了使用过渡金属和过氧化合物的固态储氧的基本概念。此类储存物将用作锂空气电池或可逆燃料电池阴极的O源和汇。通过共同努力，我们打破了这些研究领域之间的传统界限，使思想的交叉受精，可能会导致创新的解决方案，以解决每个领域的问题，并培养人员在跨越这些界限的工作文化。

Energy storage is more important today than at any other time in history. Approx. 25% of CO2 emissions arise from burning fossil fuels in transportation. It is widely acknowledged that decarbonising transport is imperative and involves electrification.The greatest challenge facing electrification of transport is energy storage. Although electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) will be with us in increasing numbers over the next decade, achieving a step change in driving range (e.g. the often stated Holy Grail of +300 miles) is impossible with the storage technologies available now and in the near term (lithium-ion batteries). Here we propose to investigate energy storage technologies far beyond the current horizon and with the potential to deliver a step change in performance of electric vehicles. We focus in particular on the Li-air battery, hydrogen and oxygen storage, in line with the scope of the call. These technologies fit into an overall vision for future hybrid EVs in which the Li-air battery, the hydrogen fuel cell (or perhaps ammonia fuel cell) and the reversible fuel cell (effectively a hydrogen-oxygen battery) play key roles. The Li-air battery has the potential to store far more energy than current generation lithium batteries but major hurdles remain to be overcome. Here we address some of the key hurdles facing a step change of Li-air batteries, opening the way to practical Li-air batteries in the longer term capable of a much extended driving range and available at lower cost than today and hence transforming transportation.Similarly we address the key challenge of hydrogen storage by a concerted series of approaches to identify the solid state stores that meet the criteria for a transformation in the mobile storage of hydrogen for transport. We also examine the radical concept of solid state oxygen storage using transition metal and peroxo compounds. Such stores would find applications as sources and sinks of O for the cathode in a Li-air cell or for a reversible fuel cell. By working together we break down the traditional boundaries between these research fields, enable the cross-fertilisation of ideas that may lead to innovative solutions to the problems of each field and train personnel in a culture of working across these boundaries.