CAREER: Defect-driven Metal Oxides for Enhanced Energy Storage Systems

非技术描述：本研究旨在促进对缺陷驱动氧化物材料的理解，以开发新的电池技术，以满足全球能源需求。人们依靠能源为建筑物、汽车、便携式设备、制造业和通信系统提供动力。全球能源需求呈指数级增长，使得改进储能技术变得越来越迫切。该项目探索了一种新的电化学范式，以创造具有高能量，功率和稳定性的电池系统的无序氧化物材料。最近的研究表明，在先进的电池系统中，具有结构缺陷和局部无序的金属氧化物可能比广泛探索的有序氧化物具有更好的容量和稳定性。本项目利用缺陷驱动氧化物材料增强电池功能的假设得到证实，将深刻改变电池的研究、制造和应用，也为缺陷驱动电极材料的研究开辟了道路。该项目旨在提高美国在储能技术领域的创新和经济竞争力。最后，该项目旨在通过一个专注于能源材料基础科学的综合研究项目，对从小学到研究生的学生进行教育和指导。研究生通过与国家实验室的合作研究获得专业发展的机会。该项目还通过与当地男孩女孩俱乐部建立新的伙伴关系，为爱达荷州的非学校环境中的青年开发教育模块，以提高学生对科学和工程的兴趣。在一年一度的STEM探索日和其他校园外展活动中，通过实践教育模块展示研究成果。技术细节：该项目测试了一个假设，即纳米级无序金属氧化物可以作为一个相当开放的框架的宿主，可以通过电化学改变来形成增强电化学电荷存储的最佳结构。最近的研究表明，与有序的氧化物相比，阳离子无序陶瓷材料可以提供更高的容量和更好的稳定性；然而，潜在的电化学电荷存储机制仍然是未知的。本研究旨在推进缺陷驱动氧化物材料、热力学、插层动力学以及如何利用它们进行能量存储的知识。在电化学循环过程中，从纳米级无定形氧化物到最佳结构的自发相变将导致缺陷化学的裁剪。目前正在研究的是简单的模型氧化物系统（二氧化钛和五氧化二铌）和锂（钠）离子电池系统。该研究可为创造新型高性能电极材料提供一种通用方法。此外，该团队正在将纳米科学、电化学和能源材料研究概念纳入从K-12到研究生阶段的课程。研究生研究人员正在与国家实验室合作，以扩大该项目的能力；通过这些合作，学生们也获得了尖端研究设备和技术的技术经验。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:This research seeks to advance the understanding of defect-driven oxide materials for developing new battery technologies to meet global energy needs. People depend on energy to power buildings, cars, portable devices, manufacturing, and communication systems. Global energy demands are growing exponentially, making improved energy storage technologies increasingly urgent. This project explores a new electrochemical paradigm to create oxide materials with disorder for high energy, power, and stability battery systems. Recent studies have indicated that metal oxides with structural defects and local disorder may offer superior capacity and stability over the widely explored well-ordered oxides for advanced battery systems. Confirmation of the hypothesis of enhancing battery functionality in this project using defect-driven oxide materials could profoundly transform battery research, manufacturing, and applications, and also open pathways for defect-driven electrode materials research. This project stands to improve the U.S. innovation and economic competitiveness in the area of energy storage technologies. Finally, this project aims at educating and mentoring students from elementary through graduate school through an integrated research program that is focused on fundamental science of energy materials. Graduate students are offered opportunities for professional development through collaborative research with national laboratories. This project is also developing educational modules for Idaho youth in non-school settings through a new partnership with local Boys and Girls Clubs to boost students' interest in science and engineering. Research outcomes are demonstrated through hands-on education modules in the annual STEM Exploration Day and other on-campus outreach activities. TECHNICAL DETAILS:This project tests the hypothesis that nanoscale disordered metal oxides can serve as a host with a fairly open framework that can be electrochemically altered to form optimal structures for enhanced electrochemical charge storage. Recent studies have indicated that cation-disordered ceramic materials may offer higher capacity and better stability as compared to well-ordered oxides; however the underlying electrochemical charge storage mechanism remains largely unknown. This study aims to advance knowledge of defect-driven oxide materials, thermodynamics, intercalation kinetics, and how to leverage them for energy storage. Evidence that tailoring the defect chemistry will result in spontaneous phase transformation during electrochemical cycling from nanoscale amorphous oxides to optimal structures is sought. Under study are simple model oxide systems (titania and niobium pentoxide) and Li(Na)-ion battery systems. The research could offer a universal method to create new high performance electrode materials. In addition, the team is adapting nanoscience, electrochemistry, and energy materials research concepts to curricula from K-12 to the graduate level. Graduate student researchers are collaborating with national laboratories to expand the capabilities in this project; through these collaborations, students are also gaining technical experience with cutting-edge research equipment and techniques.