Interface engineering and mechanism understanding for Na metal anode

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The United Nation's 2015 Paris Agreement provides a framework to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and thereby limit the increase in global average temperature to 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. The Canadian government will ban the sales of fuel-burning vehicles and light-duty trucks starting 2035 to reach net-zero emissions across the country by 2050. In addition, the sales of electric vehicles will weigh 30% of the automobile market by 2025, the market size for battery packs will grow to over $100B. Canada, as the tenth-largest auto manufacturer and the tenth-largest market of EVs sales, has been a major player in this market. Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are one of the most popular energy storage systems for portable electronics and electrical vehicles (EVs). Unfortunately, Li is not regarded as an abundant element in the Earth's crust and the costs of Li compounds have also rapidly increased in the past years, resulting in increased prices for LIBs. Due to the high abundance, low cost, and suitable redox potential of sodium (Na), The Na metal anode is the most desirable anode for the Na metal batteries due to its high theoretical capacity, low electrochemical potential and lightweight. However, the major challenges for the Na metal anode are the Na dendrite growth and the unstable interface between electrolytes and the Na anode. Surface and interface engineering are the keys to achieving reduced Na dendrite growth and enhanced electrochemical performances. To have a full understanding of the mechanisms involved, we will collaborate with Dr. Chen's group at the University of Michigan-Dearborn to develop a closed-loop research plan to understand the electrochemical-chemical-mechanical stability of the interfaces for Na metal anode combing the experimental design and theoretical simulations. Successful completion of the project will provide significant benefits to Canada's scientific, industrial and social development by transferring new knowledge, expertise and technologies.