Expanding the Range of Sodium Electrolytes: Bigger Anions, Supramolecular Size Control, and Ionic Liquids

该项目包括合成用于钠电池的新的钠电解液，含有大的、弱配位的阴离子，以最大化离子导电性并获得离子液体电解液。这项工作将包括检查这些电解液在电池中的电化学，特别是固体电解质界面(SEIS)的形成机理。主要目的是探索尺寸和化学成分与电解液稳定性和电池性能的关系。研究技术包括全电池和袋电池分析、阻抗测量、循环伏安法、固态和溶液核磁共振光谱以及使用扫描电子显微镜、原子力显微镜和XPS对SEIS进行循环后探索。该项目的更广泛目标是为钠离子电池引入改进的电解液和添加剂。

The project involves the synthesis of new sodium electrolytes for sodium batteries, containing large, weakly coordinating anions to maximise ionic conductivity and to obtain ionic liquid electrolytes. The work will involve the examination of the electrochemistry of these electrolytes in batteries, with particular focus on the mechanism of formation of solid electrolyte interfaces (SEIs). The main aim is to explore how size and chemical makeup is related to electrolyte stability and battery performance. Techniques for study include full cell and pouch cell analysis, impedance measurements, cyclic voltammetry, solid-state and solution NMR spectroscopy and post-cycling exploration of the SEIs using SEM, AFM and XPS. The broader aim of the project is to introduce improved electrolytes and additives for sodium ion batteries.