Designing novel electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries using operando techniques and smart synthetic control

这个全额资助的博士生项目将研究锂离子电池的转换负极和新型混合负极系统。该项目将包括学习应用我们的新兴和灵活的合成方法，这些方法能够在氧化物材料中快速和可控地形成新的纳米级晶体形状。这为通过控制颗粒形态来优化材料的电化学性能提供了一条强有力的新途径。我们将使用广泛的技术(例如X射线和中子衍射、总散射法、电子显微镜、电池制造和测试)来充分了解合成和功能性质所涉及的基本过程。我们将充分利用我们全新的世界级操作员衍射和MicroCT设备来研究电池在运行过程中发生的变化。该项目的最终目标是开发新的转化阳极和/或转化/合金混合材料，能够存储比目前使用的商业替代材料多得多的电荷。所使用的方法和采取的方法将对其他储能和功能材料的更广泛研究具有巨大的相关性。

This fully funded PhD studentship will study conversion anode and novel hybrid anode systems for lithium-ion batteries. The project will involve learning to apply our emergent and flexible synthesis methods, which enable rapid and controllable formation of novel nanoscale crystal shapes in oxide materials. This gives a powerful new route to optimising the electrochemical performance of a material via control of particle morphology. We will use a wide range of techniques (e.g. X-ray and neutron diffraction, total scattering methods, electron microscopy, battery fabrication and testing) to fully understand the fundamental processes involved in both synthesis and functional properties. We will make good use of our brand-new world-class operando diffraction and MicroCT facilities to study the changes that occur inside batteries during operation. The ultimate aim of this project is to develop new conversion anode and/or conversion/alloy hybrid materials capable of storing significantly more charge than currently used commercial alternatives. The methods used and approaches taken will be of huge relevance to the wider study of other energy storage and functional materials.