GOALI: In Situ Electron Microscopy Studies of Zinc Electrodeposition for Secondary Battery Applications

这项IBM-UCLA-LLNL的合作研究旨在对电池中应用的电沉积锌（Zn）薄膜的成核、生长和稳定性的动力学有一个基本的了解。从铅酸电池开始，可充电电池已经成为我们社会不可分割的一部分。随着消费电子产品的激增，以及最近对清洁、可持续能源的需求，可回收和可充电电池再次受到关注。在几种可能的候选系统中，锌碱性电池和锌空气电池因其稳定性、安全性和成本而具有吸引力。然而，阻碍锌基可充电电池技术实现的主要挑战是高纵横比锌枝晶和多孔薄膜的形成，这降低了性能和使用寿命。这一领域的进展需要对影响多长度尺度电沉积过程中形态演变的因素有一个基本的了解。本研究通过在透射电子显微镜下原位电沉积锌和在光学显微镜下原位电沉积锌来解决这个问题，使用Hele-Shaw电池几何形状，可以在充放电循环期间对界面结构进行成像。通过获取溶液化学和电沉积参数的函数数据，可以深入了解影响光滑Zn薄膜形成的因素，这是实现可充电电池的重要标准。除了为锌基可充电电池的发展提供重要的知识外，对社会的贡献还包括培养具有更广泛的国家实验室和工业研究活动意识的未来科学家和工程师。这项合作研究为加州大学洛杉矶分校的博士后学者和学生提供了与来自工业界（IBM）和国家实验室（LLNL）的杰出科学家互动的机会，对一些最先进的最先进的表征工具进行实践培训，并接触到工业界对能源相关研究的看法。

This IBM-UCLA-LLNL collaborative research aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the kinetics of nucleation, growth, and stability of electrodeposited zinc (Zn) thin films for applications in batteries. Rechargeable batteries, starting with lead-acid batteries, have been integral part of our society. With the surge in consumer electronics along with the recent demand for clean, sustainable energy, recyclable and rechargeable batteries have received renewed attention. Among the several possible candidate systems, zinc-alkaline and zinc-air batteries are attractive owing to their stability, safety, and cost. However, a major challenge impeding the realization of Zn-based rechargeable battery technology is the formation of high-aspect-ratio Zn dendrites and porous thin films, which reduce performance and operation life time. Progress in this area requires a basic understanding of the factors affecting the morphological evolution during electrodeposition at multiple length scales. This research addresses this issue via electrodeposition of zinc in situ in a transmission electron microscope and in situ in an optical microscope using Hele-Shaw cell geometries, which allow imaging of the interfacial structure during charge and discharge cycles. The acquisition of data as a function of solution chemistry and electrodepostion parameters enables the development of mechanistic insights into factors influencing the formation of smooth Zn thin films, an essential criterion for the realization of rechargeable batteries. In addition to advancing knowledge important for the development of Zn-based rechargeable batteries, contributions to the society include training of future scientists and engineers with broader awareness of national laboratory and industrial research activities. This collaborative research provides to the postdoctoral scholars and students at UCLA opportunities for interactions with eminent scientists from industry (IBM) and national laboratory (LLNL), hands-on training on some of the most sophisticated state-of-the-art characterization tools, and exposure to industry's perspective on energy-related research.