Crossing Boundaries in Energy Storage

如今，能源储存比历史上任何时候都更为重要。大约25%的二氧化碳排放来自运输过程中化石燃料的燃烧。人们普遍认为，交通运输脱碳势在必行，并且涉及电气化。交通电气化面临的最大挑战是能源储存。尽管电动汽车和插电式混合动力汽车（ev）在未来十年将会越来越多，但在现有的存储技术和近期内（锂离子电池）的支持下，行驶里程（例如经常被称为300英里的圣杯）是不可能实现的。在这里，我们建议研究远远超出当前范围的能量存储技术，并有可能在电动汽车的性能方面实现阶段性变化。我们特别关注锂空气电池，氢气和氧气的储存，符合电话的范围。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（实际上是氢氧电池）发挥关键作用。锂-空气电池有潜力储存比当前一代锂电池更多的能量，但仍有一些主要障碍有待克服。在这里，我们解决了锂-空气电池逐步改变所面临的一些关键障碍，为实用的锂-空气电池开辟了道路，从长远来看，它能够以比现在更低的成本延长行驶里程，从而改变交通运输。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，以确定符合运输用氢移动存储转换标准的固态存储。我们还研究了使用过渡金属和过氧化合物的固态氧储存的激进概念。这种存储器可以作为锂-空气电池或可逆燃料电池阴极的O源和O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，使思想的交叉融合，可能导致每个领域问题的创新解决方案，并在跨越这些界限的工作文化中培养人才。

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.