NER: Li-ion Batteries: Hierarchical Architectures for Reducing Diffusion Lengths

能源存储和转移的新架构——活性纳米结构和纳米系统目的：社会对能源的需求正在迅速超过当前的技术。纳米技术将对储存和传输能量的应用产生深远的影响。我们建议整合我们在开发具有优越物理和电子性能的新材料（Manivannan）和纳米级材料组织的新合成方法（Prieto）方面的经验，以制造和表征锂离子电池技术的新型纳米结构。我们将制造纳米线阵列的新型电极材料，以形成新的电池结构。每个阳极纳米线将被聚合物电解质包裹，然后被阴极包围。智力优势：这种电池结构的显著优势是锂离子在阴极和阳极之间的扩散长度将大大缩短。虽然锂离子电池的各个方面都将受益于增强的材料性能，但该项目的智力价值在于PI开发的架构与co-PI开发的优化正极材料之间的协同作用。本研究的最终目标是研制出充放电速度更快、寿命更长的纳米级锂离子电池。更广泛的影响：可充电电池的巨大进步将对经济产生广泛的影响。此外，这是一个很好的训练学生的项目，因为组件是模块化的——一个学生负责阴极、阳极或电解质，但随后必须合作有效地将它们组合成一个功能设备。PI将继续在一些本科和研究生课程中纳入他们的前沿研究，并积极从代表性不足的群体中招募有才华的学生。

Novel Architectures for Energy Storage and TransferActive Nanostructures and NanosystemsECCS-0709412PI- Amy L. PrietoColorado State UniversityObjective: The energy needs for society are rapidly outpacing current technology. Nanotechnology will have a profound impact in applications for storing and transporting energy. We propose to integrate our experience in developing new materials with superior physical and electronic properties (Manivannan) and new synthetic methods for the organization of nanoscale materials (Prieto) to fabricate and characterize a novel nanoscale architecture for lithium ion battery technologies. We will fabricate nanowire arrays of novel electrode materials into a new battery architecture. Each anodic nanowire will be coated with a polymer electrolyte, then surrounded by the cathode. Intellectual Merit: The significant advantage of this battery architecture is that the diffusion length for lithium ions between the cathode and anode will be dramatically reduced. While every aspect of lithium ion batteries will benefit from enhanced materials properties, the intellectual merit of this project is in the synergy between the architecture developed by the PI and the optimized cathode materials developed by the co-PI. The ultimate goal of this research is a nanoscale lithium ion battery with faster charge and discharge rates and longer lifetime.Broader Impacts: Dramatic improvement in rechargeable batteries will have broad impacts economically. Furthermore, this is an excellent project for training students because the components are modular - one student is in charge of the cathode, anode, or electrolyte, but then must collaborate to effectively combine them into a functional device. The PI's will continue to include their cutting-edge research in several undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as actively recruit talented students from underrepresented groups.