NSF-BSF: Unraveling Link between Interfacial Properties and Chemo-Mechanical Performance of Na-ion Cathode Materials via Surface Modification Approaches

非技术摘要：对可再生能源和相关储能技术的需求不断增加，迫使社会使电池化学成分多样化。锂的相对稀缺性和成本导致人们对可充电钠离子电池的兴趣日益浓厚。不幸的是，由于电极上的界面不稳定，钠离子电池的实际性能受到循环寿命短的影响。该项目由美国国家科学基金会材料研究部的固态和材料化学项目以及化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统部门的电化学系统项目共同支持，旨在确定人工表面涂层的理想性能，以减轻界面不稳定性。这些知识为通过调整阴极的界面特性来改善钠离子电池的电化学性能提供了指导。通过美国和以色列研究人员之间的合作研究机会，该项目建立了共享互补资源的国际合作模式，从不同背景中发展宝贵的深度观点，并加速共同进步，以解决全球对能源技术的兴趣。该项目不仅促进了研究的整合，还促进了教育活动的整合，例如，通过研讨会和研究经验，为来自美国方面代表性不足的群体的当地高中生提供研究经验，并为来自伊朗方面不同国籍的高中生提供研究经验。拓展工作的目的是加强材料化学家和电池技术工程师的人才储备。技术摘要：该合作项目由美国国家科学基金会材料研究部固态与材料化学项目和化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统部门的电化学系统项目共同支持，旨在确定诱导机械化学稳定性的关键界面特性，并建立优化na离子存储氧化还原可逆性的材料工程策略。美国和以色列的主要研究人员研究了人造表面涂层性能与na离子阴极化学机械不稳定性之间的耦合。通过三个特定的推力选择聚阴离子型阴极和高熵氧化物阴极作为模型阴极材料。研究人员采用原子层沉积的方法制备了导电钠离子的人工表面涂层，并对其在钠环境中的电化学稳定性进行了研究。第二部分阐述了表面涂层对阴极结构和界面不稳定性的影响。通过最后一次推力，研究人员确定了表面涂层对阴极速率能力的影响。在分析模型的支持下，利用曲率干涉法、数字图像相关和在线电化学质谱技术来探测na离子阴极在操作过程中的动态变化。该项目的成果有望利用界面工程方法推进阴极机械化学稳定的概念。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-technical abstract:The increased demand for renewable energy sources and associated energy storage technologies is forcing society to diversify battery chemistries. The relative scarcity and cost of lithium have resulted in increasing interest in rechargeable sodium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, the practical performance of sodium-ion batteries suffers from short cycle life due to interfacial instabilities on the electrodes. This project, jointly supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in NSF’s Division of Materials Research and the Electrochemical Systems program in the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems, aims to identify desirable properties of the artificial surface coatings for mitigating interfacial instabilities. Such knowledge provides guidance to improve the electrochemical performance of sodium-ion batteries by tuning interfacial properties of cathodes. Through collaborative research opportunities between U.S. and Israeli researchers, this project establishes the international cooperation model on sharing complementary resources, developing invaluable depth of perspective from diverse backgrounds, and accelerating joint progress to address global interests in energy technologies. The project not only fosters integration of research but also of educational activities, for example, through workshops, and research experiences for local high school students from underrepresented groups on the US side, and from various nationalities on the IL side. The outreach efforts are aimed at strengthening the pipeline of talent for material chemists and engineers for battery technologies.Technical abstract:This collaborative project, which is jointly supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in NSF’s Division of Materials Research and the Electrochemical Systems program in the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems, identifies key interfacial properties that induce mechano-chemical stability and establish material engineering strategies for optimizing redox reversibility for Na-ion storage. The principal investigators in the US and Israel investigate the coupling between the properties of artificial surface coatings and chemo-mechanical instabilities in Na-ion cathodes. Polyanionic-type cathodes and high entropy oxide cathodes are chosen as model cathode materials through three specific thrusts. The thrust develops Na-ion-conducting artificial surface coatings by atomic layer deposition and investigates their electro-chemical stability in the Na environment. The second thrust elucidates the role of surface coatings on the structural and interfacial instabilities of cathodes. With the last thrust, the researchers identify the impact of surface coatings on the rate capability of cathodes. Curvature interferometry, digital image correlation and online electrochemical mass spectroscopy techniques, supported by an analytical model, are utilized to probe in-operando dynamic changes in the Na-ion cathodes. The outcome of the project is expected to advance the concept of mechano-chemical stabilization of cathodes using an interfacial engineering approach.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.