Nanoscale Design of Battery Electrodes for Optimized Performance and Lifetime

电极结构的作用在文献中很少被探讨，但纳米结构电极原则上具有许多优点，包括更快的充电和更高的能量容量。然而，它们的表面积很大，这导致了热力学界面的不稳定性，并可能产生局部的“热点”，从而与电解质发生不必要的反应。该项目将探索克服这些挑战的策略，同时提供纳米结构系统的好处。特别是，它将侧重于为钠离子阳极准备增强的设计界面，作为更大的合作计划的一部分。主要活动将是：-设计。预先设计界面的开发将防止不可逆的损失，稳定小特征，并提高对电极-电解质界面处理的理解。预接枝/反应靶向界面，使用还原驱动化学（帝国理工学院首创）提供了一种生产稳定材料的途径。电极和界面的稳定性将使用帝国理工学院开发的用于国家设施的原位电化学电池进行研究。从长远来看，稳定的界面将使未来一系列纳米结构电极的发展成为可能，包括拓扑优化结构，以解决离子/电子/机械需求的冲突，使用连续的，坚固的导电框架气凝胶来支持新的和/或具有挑战性的化学反应

The role of electrode structure has been poorly explored in the literature, but nanostructured electrodes in principle offer many advantages including faster charging and higher energy capacity. They are however, limited by their large surface area which drives thermodynamic interfacial instability, and may create local 'hot spots' for unwanted reactions with the electrolyte. This project will explore strategies to overcome these challenges, whilst delivering the benefits of nano-architectured systems. In particular it will focus on the preparation of enhanced, designed interfaces for sodium-ion anodes, as part of a larger intended collaboration. The key activities will be:-Design. The development of pre-designed interfaces will prevent irreversible loss, stabilise small features, and improve understanding of electrode-electrolyte interfaces-Processing. Pre-grafting / reacting targeted interphases, using reductively driven chemistry (pioneered at Imperial) provides a route to produce stable materials-Characterisation. The stability of both electrode and interphase will be studied using in situ electrochemical cells developed by Imperial for use at National facilitiesIn the longer term, stabilised interfaces will enable a range of nanostructured electrode developments in the future, including-topologically optimised architectures to resolve conflicting ion/electron/mechanical demands-use of continuous, robust conductive framework aerogels to support new and/or challenging chemistries