Extended Network: The Global Challenge Network in Batteries and Electrochemical Energy Devices

电化学设备已经成为我们日常生活的一部分，尤其是锂离子电池，它通过在消费电子产品中的无处不在的应用改变了现代生活。在未来，这些设备将在我们的生活中扮演越来越重要的角色，从为我们的汽车和公共汽车提供动力的电池到为电网提供独立电力的燃料电池。英国在这些设备的发现和发展中发挥了至关重要的作用，通过大学、国家实验室和公司的不断前沿研究，英国一直处于电化学设备研究的前沿。为了在一系列环境中扩展和优化这些设备的应用，从根本上改进我们对电池中发生的基本过程的理解至关重要。大规模的设施研究是实现这一目标的关键，使用一系列中子、同步加速器和高性能计算设施的技术。单独利用一系列中子、x射线或高性能计算技术，为提高对电池的理解提供了机会——通过结合世界领先从业者在一系列互补技术和设施上的优势，我们将有一个独特的机会快速推进该领域，并通过我们与行业的合作将这一领先研究转化为商业现实。自2013年以来，STFC电池和电化学能源设备全球挑战网络（网络）帮助加强了英国在这一领域的活跃研究社区，培育了新的研究和合作，并通过其倡导推动英国成为该领域的世界领导者。在第二阶段，我们寻求巩固这一成功，并通过提供研究资金，以及网络和培训机会，为电化学装置研究做出实质性贡献。

Electrochemical devices are already part of our day-to-day lives, particularly Li-ion batteries that have transformed modern life through their ubiquitous application in consumer electronics. In the future, these devices will play an increasing role in our lives, from batteries that will power our cars and buses to fuel cells that will provide grid independent electricity. The UK has played a crucial role in the discovery and development of these devices, and through continuing cutting edge research at universities, national labs and companies, remains at the forefront of electrochemical device research. In order to extend and optimise and the application of these devices in a range of environments, fundamental improvements to our understanding of the fundamental processes occurring in batteries are essential. Large-scale facilities research is essential to achieve this, using a range of techniques at neutron, synchrotron and high performance computing facilities.Utilising a range of neutron, x-ray or HPC techniques in isolation provides opportunities to improve understanding of batteries - by combining the strengths of world leading practitioners across a range of complementary techniques and facilities we will have a unique opportunity to rapidly advance the field, and thorough our partnerships with industry translate this leading research into commercial reality.Since 2013, the STFC Global Challenge Network in Batteries and Electrochemical Energy Devices (the Network) has helped to strengthen the UK research community active in this area, seed new research and collaborations, and through its advocacy has promoted the UK as a world leader in this field. In Phase 2 we seek to consolidate this success, and by provision of research funding, in addition to Networking and Training opportunities, to make substantive contributions to electrochemical device research.