Advanced thermodynamic models to support innovative high temperature materials processing strategies for carbon-based clean energy applications

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Canada is on the verge of a clean energy technological revolution. In coming years, these technologies are expected to become the primary solution to support Canada in meeting its greenhouse gases reduction objectives set by the Paris Agreement. Under said agreement, Canada aimed to reduce by 2030 his CO2-equivalent emissions by 30% (relative to 2005 emission levels). Based on emission data between 2016 and 2018 (the most official recent data), we assess that, at best, a decrease of approximately 3 % has been achieved. Thus, an urgent solution must be proposed and rapidly implemented. Clean energy transport solutions and clean energy power grids are some of the promising technological solutions to answer this historical environmental challenge.    Both solutions will require state-of-the-art devices for practical implementation. Specifically, for transport solutions and energy grids, energy storage technologies and solar energy devices are essential. Said devices require specialised high performance materials to serve as the engineering backbone of this revolution. Carbon-based materials have always been a strong ally of clean energy technologies. Most recently, the unprecedented exponential rise of lithium-ion battery powered electric vehicles, which rely on graphite as electrode material (or other types of graphitic carbons), exposed to the world the importance of said carbon materials for commercial application of the lithium-ion batteries. Graphene, the nanoscale counterpart of graphite, has also been extensively studied as a potential material for high performance solar energy devices. However, lithium-ion battery graphite anodes and graphenic solar materials possess some limitations.    The present proposal aims at developing new carbon-based materials for clean energy applications (e.g. solar energy devices, lithium-ion batteries). Specifically, for lithium-ion batteries, we will explore the development of silicon carbide-graphite (nano)composite materials as next-generation electrodes. We will also explore the possibility of recycling existing graphite electrodes for these devices to increase long-term sustainability of this technology. Finally, we will attempt to synthesise nanosheets of silagraphene, a new material which holds high potential for future solar energy devices.    The key innovative value of this proposal is that all experimental high temperature processing technologies aimed at producing said materials will be developed under the framework of hierarchical thermodynamics. Hierarchical thermodynamics is a versatile advanced thermodynamic modelling approach well suited to the description of hierarchical structures such as carbon-based materials. Thus, this project is expected to yield high impact short-term practical results in the field of clean energy and contribute to the very long-term development of our fundamental understanding of the thermodynamics of advanced materials at high temperatures.