New Materials and Approaches for Energy Conversion and Storage

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The scope of the proposed research program is to develop new approaches to energy conversion and storage based on novel carbon materials and in particular nitrogen-doped carbon (NDC). Long- and Short-Term Objectives The long-term objective is to develop efficient innovative solutions for energy applications, such as photovoltaic solar energy conversion, advanced batteries and fuel cells. The short-term objectives are: (1) Development and optimization of cheap, robust and efficient all-carbon solar cells based on nitrogen-doped carbon (NDC) as photovoltaic material. (2) Development of efficient and stable NDC based electrodes to be used in advanced metal-ion batteries. (3) Development of novel NDC-based electrocatalysts for industrially important reactions of oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation for use in metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Scientific Approach (1) Recently we showed that NDC can possess pronounced photovoltaic properties and built working solid-state solar cell prototypes. Our efforts will be aimed at improving the semiconducting and photovoltaic properties of NDC, as well as fine-tuning of the electronic and transport properties of NDC to maximize the cell efficiency. (2) The improvements in the intercalation ability of NDC towards metal ions such as Li+ and Na+ can result from the presence of nitrogen-induced defects that result in distortion of the basal planes of NDC as compared to graphite. This can lead to development of new efficient materials for advanced batteries. The research here will progress in two directions, (i) systematic structural characterization and optimization of NDC obtained under different conditions and (ii) extensive studies of the kinetics and mechanism of intercalation processes. (3) NDC can be an excellent substrate for various types of electrocatalysts due to its robustness, high electrical conductivity, very high mechanical and electrochemical stability, light weight, etc. One of very important but challenging electrocatalytic processes is oxygen reduction reaction, which is crucial for efficient energy generation in fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Nitrogenated carbon catalysts for oxygen reduction are a very rapidly developing topic due to their potential to replace expensive Pt-based catalysts. The catalytic activity of such materials directly depends on the abundance of specific nitrogen bonding sites and is currently limited by relatively low nitrogen content in the materials available at this time. We have been successful in developing nitrogen-rich NDC, and therefore we expect that these materials will show excellent catalytic properties in oxygen reduction reaction. Furthermore, NDC will be used as substrate for tethering various catalytically active moieties used in other significant reactions, such as methanol oxidation. Novelty and Expected Significance of the Work The proposed research is highly innovative and targets several very important and current problems of modern science and technology related to energy generation and usage. The work will result in development of new types of solar cells, batteries and fuel cells based on novel materials and approaches. Solar energy conversion and especially energy generation and storage are very important for the Canadian economy and have been identified as new technologies essential for its sustainable development from an environmental, economic and social standpoint. The energy storage technologies have been specifically recognized is a particularly underdeveloped component of Canada’s energy-management capabilities that requires major research and development efforts and specifically development of new transformational approaches through fundamental research.