CAREER: Materials and Interphase Engineering in Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries

电化学储能技术在利用太阳能和风能等间歇性可再生资源产生的电力方面发挥着关键作用。目前的锂离子电池和铅酸蓄电池等充电电池技术在稳定性、成本和环境影响等方面都不能完全满足可持续储能的要求。本课题研究的是一种新型的铝金属负极充电电池，即铝离子电池。铝是地壳中最丰富的金属；它无毒，在国内可获得，而且潜在的低成本。此外，由于铝离子的荷电状态(它的三价态)，所得到的铝离子电池可以达到可再生能源存储应用所需的高容量。这项研究项目将导致对铝离子电池系统中的电化学过程和材料性质的基础知识。该项目还通过为当地高中生提供导师和电动汽车俱乐部计划，以及为加州大学河滨分校的本科生提供研究机会，为STEM中代表不足的少数族裔学生提供教育和外展活动的新途径。本项目的目标是对可充电铝离子电池系统中的电化学过程和材料特性有一个基本的了解。该项目的方法将阴极、阳极和电解液作为一个统一的系统来处理。可充电铝离子电池的科学和技术挑战集中在可行的室温、无氯有机电解液，而不是Lewis酸性离子液体。该项目的目标1重点是了解溶剂-盐配位化学及其对有机溶剂铝离子电解液可逆镀铝和反萃取铝的影响。目的2研究铝阳极上固体-电解液界面相(SEI)的形成和组成，设计一种简易镀铝剥离用的人工SEI。研究了新型铝盐和铝离子电解液除氯添加剂。目的3研究插层型和转换型正极材料以及前两种目标对铝离子电解液的协同效益。研究将理论预测与实验验证相结合，加快研究进展。

Electrochemical energy storage technologies play a critical role in the utilization of electricity generated from intermittent renewable resources such as solar and wind. Current rechargeable battery technologies including Li-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries cannot fully fulfill the requirements for sustainable energy storage in terms of stability, cost, and environmental impact. This project investigates a new type of rechargeable battery based on aluminum (Al) metal anode, namely Al-ion batteries. Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust; it is non-toxic, domestically available, and potentially low-cost. Furthermore, due to the charge state of the Al ion (its trivalency), the resultant Al-ion batteries can achieve the high capacity required by renewable energy storage applications. This research project will result in fundamental knowledge of the electrochemical processes and materials properties in the Al-ion battery systems. This project also provides new avenues for educational and outreach activities for underrepresented minority students in STEM through mentorship and Electric Vehicle club programs for local high school students and research opportunities for undergraduates of UC-Riverside. The goal of this project is to gain a fundamental understanding of the electrochemical processes and materials properties in a rechargeable Al-ion battery system. The project's approach addresses the cathode, anode, and electrolyte as a unified system. The scientific and technical challenges to rechargeable Al-ion batteries are centered at feasible room-temperature, chloride-free organic electrolytes that are beyond Lewis acid ionic liquids. Aim 1 of the project focuses on understanding the solvent-salt coordination chemistry and its effect on reversible Al plating and stripping from Al-ion electrolytes based on organic solvents. Aim 2 addresses the formation and composition of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the Al metal anode, to design an artificial SEI for facile Al plating-stripping. New Al salts and additives for Al-ion electrolytes to eliminate chloride are also investigated. Aim 3 investigates the intercalation-type and conversion-type cathode materials and synergistically benefits from the first two aims on Al-ion electrolytes. The investigations will combine theoretical prediction and experimental validation to expedite the research progress.