Molecularly Engineered, Targeted O2-Electrodes For Reversible, Nonaqueous Li-Air Batteries

1434696 - NikollaA向环保、可再生能源（如太阳能和风能）的转变将需要能源存储技术的重大进步，特别是在运输部门。随着重量更轻、成本更低、可充电电池的发展，电动汽车的实用性和对消费者的吸引力将大大提高。锂-空气（Li-air）电池是最有前途的能量存储技术之一，因为理论上它们可以以低成本提供非常高的能量密度（电池在给定重量下可以存储的能量）。锂空气电池的理论能量密度与汽油相当，远远高于其他任何储能技术。虽然这些系统非常有前途，但它们的性能受到许多因素的极大限制，包括氧（O2）电极的活性和稳定性。在本提案中，我们采用了一种系统的方法来开发锂-空气电池的活性和稳定的氧气电极。我们预计，提出的控制实验研究将导致基本的见解，可以指导高活性和可逆的锂空气电池的发展。稳定的、可逆的、接近理论极限的锂空气电池的发展将为能源存储技术提供一个重大突破。这项工作的目的是为锂-空气电池开发多功能氧电极，目标是控制其活性和稳定性的两个重要化学步骤：(i) Li+扩散，（ii）充电过程中析氧反应（OER）的激活。控制电化学和光谱研究将被用来获得重要的基本见解，目标电化学/化学步骤对锂-空气电池氧电极电化学的影响。我们预计这项工作将对稳定高效的锂空气电池的发展产生重大影响。开发分子工程靶电极的系统方法可以推广到其他电化学系统。除了科学影响之外，拟议的研究还将成为韦恩州立大学（WSU）少数族裔本科生的学习工具。PI还与当地K-12学校合作，通过暑期实习让K-12学生参与研究，并激励他们从事科学和工程方面的职业。在与美国国家科学基金会赞助的“获得选择-女孩调查现实生活”项目的合作中，PI还提议组织？能源与环境？初中、高中女生们将参加与能源、环境相关的研究活动。PI计划利用从该项目中获得的基本电化学见解，为高年级本科生和研究生设计一门以电化学基础为重点的课程。

1434696 - NikollaA shift toward environmentally friendly, renewable energy sources such as the sun and the wind will require major advancements in energy storage technologies especially for the transportation sector. The utility and customer appeal of electric automobiles would be greatly enhanced by development of lighter-weight, lower-cost, rechargeable batteries. Lithium-air (Li-air) batteries are among the most promising energy storage technologies because they can theoretically provide very high energy density (amount of energy the battery can store for a given weight) at a low cost. The theoretical energy density of Li-air batteries is comparable to that of gasoline, and much higher than that of any other energy storage technologies. While these systems are very promising, their performance is significantly limited by a number of factors, including the activity and stability of the oxygen (O2) electrode. In this proposal, we employ a systematic approach to develop active and stable oxygen electrodes for Li-air batteries. We anticipate that the proposed controlled experimental studies will lead to fundamental insights that can guide the development of highly active and reversible Li-air batteries. Development of stable, reversible Li-air batteries that operate near the theoretical limit will provide a major breakthrough in the energy storage technology.The aim of the proposed worked is to develop multifunctional oxygen electrodes for Li-air batteries that target two important chemical steps that govern their activity and stability: (i) Li+ diffusion, and (ii) the activation of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during the charging process. Controlled electrochemical and spectroscopy studies will be utilized to obtain important fundamental insights on the effect of the targeted electrochemical/chemical steps on the electrochemistry at the oxygen electrode of Li-air batteries. We anticipate that the proposed work will have a significant impact toward the development of stable and efficient Li-air batteries. The systematic approach on developing molecularly engineered, target electrodes can be extended to other electrochemical systems. In addition to the scientific impact, the proposed research will become a learning tool for undergraduate students from underrepresented minorities at Wayne State University (WSU). The PI has also partnered with local K-12 schools to involve K-12 students with the research through summer internships and inspire them to pursue careers in science and engineering. In collaboration with the NSF-sponsored Gaining Options-Girls Investigate Real Life program, the PI also proposes to organize ?Energy and Environment? day camps, where middle and high school girls will be introduced to research related to energy and environment. The PI plans to use the fundamental electrochemical insights obtained from this project to design a course for senior undergraduate and graduate students focused on the Fundamentals of Electrochemistry.