Synthesis of Complex, Multi-Phase Solid Electrolytes by a Vapor Phase Process

非技术性：这项工作的重点是合成材料，这些材料将用于电池，以储存由各种可再生能源(如太阳能、风能)以及使用天然气和沼气产生的电能。使用这种材料制造的电池也非常适合负载均衡，这意味着存储在非高峰时间产生的电能，并在高峰使用时间使用。负载均衡电池有可能缩小产生二氧化碳的发电厂的规模，这对我们的环境有直接影响。目前制造这种用作电解液的材料的方法涉及高温，而且所产生的材料在典型的大气条件下很容易降解。这种方法建立在材料的热力学稳定性和多组分传输的非常基本的基础上，对于在化学工业和其他过程中的各种应用中制造新型氧化物材料至关重要，并有可能以环境清洁的方式制造耐用材料。每年都会招募两名本科生参与这个项目。至少有一名学生来自一个代表性不足的群体。此外，一名研究生在整个项目期间都在接受培训。学生们正在获得与陶瓷加工相关的科学和工程专业知识。技术细节：离子结合系统中的运输通常涉及熔剂的耦合。这种耦合通常是电性的。多年来，所有的输运过程(例如，胺双极输运)都是用适用于单相体系的扩散方程来描述的。例如，许多研究描述了通过单相材料的传输，例如氧化铝、氧化镁和氧化锆。在这样的系统中，移动最慢的物质决定了动力学，从而控制了烧结等过程。这项工作表明，电耦合(原则上可以用Onsager方程和线性非平衡热力学来描述)并不局限于单相体系。因此，有可能设想并行传输到多相系统，这仍然是由电耦合控制的。主要的科学进步是利用这一概念以数量级增加了运输的动力学。作为一个具体的例子，由于氧的缓慢扩散，单相氧化铝(或Na-β“-氧化铝)中的传输非常缓慢。然而，通过为氧的传输提供快速路径(使用氧离子导体作为两相体系中的组分)，过程动力学得到增强。此外，这种方法允许对热力学进行精确控制，从而抑制不想要的副反应。这种方法不仅限于氧化物，还可以推广到许多其他类型的技术上重要的材料(卤化物、硫化物等)。并且还可以扩展到两个以上的阶段。这种方法有可能导致具有新性能和新研究方向的材料的合成过程。

NON-TECHNICAL: This work focuses on the synthesis of materials that will be used in batteries to store electrical energy generated by various renewable sources (such as solar, wind) as well as using natural gas and biogas. The batteries made using such materials are also ideally suited for load leveling, which means storage of electrical energy produced during off peak times and used during peak usage times. Load leveling batteries have the potential to reduce the size of the carbon dioxide-producing power plants which has a direct influence on our environment. The current method of making such materials used as electrolytes involves high temperatures and the materials produced easily degrade under typical atmospheric conditions. This approach builds on the very basics of thermodynamic stability of materials and multi-species transport, central to the fabrication of new types of oxide materials in various applications in chemical industry and other processes, and has the potential to make durable materials in environmentally clean ways. Two undergraduate students are recruited to work on the project each year. At least one of the students is from an underrepresented group. As well, one graduate student is being trained throughout the duration of the project. The students are gaining expertise in science and engineering related to ceramic processing. TECHNICAL DETAILS: Transport in ionically bonded systems most always involves coupling of fluxes. This coupling is typically electrical. For years, all transport processes (e.g., amibipolar transport) have been described using diffusion equations applied to single phase systems. For example, many studies have described transport through single phase materials, e.g., alumina, magnesia, and zirconia. In such systems, the slowest moving species dictates the kinetics, and thus governs the processes such as sintering. This work shows that electrical coupling (which can in principle be described by Onsager equations and linear non-equilibrium thermodynamics) is not limited to single phase systems. Thus, it is possible to envision parallel transport to multi-phase systems, which is still governed by electrical coupling. The principal scientific advance is in using this concept to increase the kinetics of transport by orders of magnitude. As a specific example, transport in single phase alumina (or Na-beta"-alumina) is very sluggish due to slow oxygen diffusion. However, by providing a rapid path for the transport of oxygen (using an oxygen ion conductor as a constituent in a two phase system), the process kinetics is enhanced. Additionally, this approach allows a precise control over thermodynamics such that unwanted side reactions are suppressed. This approach is not limited to oxides, but can be extended to many other types of technologically important materials (halides, sulfides, etc.) and can also be extended to more than two phases. The approach has the potential to lead to processes for the synthesis of materials with novel properties and new directions of research.