Engineering Electrolyte Materials in Energy Storage Devices

非技术描述全球年度能源消费正以前所未有的速度增长，但传统能源正变得更加有限，一般能源使用变得更加昂贵。因此，在未来几十年里，更有效地转换、储存和节约能源的创造性解决方案变得更加重要。此外，为了开发替代能源，使用可再生能源的新节能技术和更高效的能源储存系统正在涌现。固体氧化物燃料电池被认为是所有燃料电池中效率最高的，并且在许多应用中具有低成本的前景。主导便携式电子行业市场的可充电锂离子电池是为越来越多样化的设备供电的可行候选者。在这个方案中，我们的目标是在小型化的尺度上合成和优化这些储能器件中的一个关键的活性成分--电解液，以进一步提高储能密度和改善器件的性能。拟议的研究将作为未来几代工程师的培训平台，他们不仅拥有尖端研究技术的经验，而且富有创造力、尽职尽责，致力于解决全球能源危机。技术细节本研究的目标是在微型储能设备中合成金属氧化物基电解液材料，并研究其结构性质和离子导电性，以了解控制其作为电解液性能的微观途径，从而控制和提高其效率。为了合理地设计一种与电极具有较大接触面积的有效电解液材料，本工作将阐明原子层沉积的生长机理及其对电解液S成分和微观结构的控制作用，并将这些薄膜材料在微型化的三维复杂结构上进行共形集成，并评估其离子导电性和效率。随着这些金属氧化物材料在电子、光学、传感器和储能等领域得到更广泛的应用，本研究在实现多功能材料的设计和优化方面具有变革性的意义。这项研究通过教育和培训未来几代工程师产生了更广泛的影响，这些工程师熟练掌握最先进的研究技术，认真负责，富有创造力，致力于解决全球能源危机。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONThe global annual energy consumption is increasing at an unprecedented rate, yet the conventional energy sources are becoming more limited and the general energy use is getting more expensive. Therefore, creative solutions in more efficient energy conversion, storage, and saving become much more critical in the coming decades. In addition, to exploit alternative energy sources, new energy-saving technologies using renewable power sources and more efficient energy storage systems are emerging. Solid oxide fuel cells are regarded as the highest in efficiency amongst all fuel cells and have the promise of low cost in numerous applications. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which have dominated the market in portable electronic industry, are viable candidates for powering an increasingly diverse range of devices. In this proposal, we aim to synthesize and optimize a critical and active component in these energy storage devices at miniaturized scales, the electrolyte, to further improve the energy storage density and improve the device performance. The proposed research will serve as a training platform for future generations of engineers, who are not only experienced with cutting-edge research techniques, but are also creative, conscientious and committed to solving the global energy crisis. TECHNICAL DETAILS The objective of this research is to synthesize metal oxide based electrolyte materials in miniaturized energy storage devices and investigate their structural properties and ionic conductivity to understand the microscopic pathways governing their performance as an electrolyte, thereby controlling and improving its efficiency. To rationally design an effective electrolyte material with a large contact area with the electrodes, this work will elucidate the growth mechanism of these materials by atomic layer deposition and its effect on controlling the electrolyte?s composition and microstructure and integrate these thin film materials conformally over miniaturized three-dimensional complex structures and assess their ionic conductivity and efficiency. As these metal oxide materials find broader applications in areas including electronics, optics, sensors, and energy storage, this research is transformational in realizing design and optimization of materials with multiple functionalities. This research has a broader impact through the education and training of the future generations of engineers who are skilled with state-of-the-art research techniques and are conscientious, creative, and committed to solve the global energy crisis.