Platform Grant Renewal - Materials for Lithium Batteries

可充电锂电池已经改变了便携式电子产品(每年20亿个电池)。2009年)。它们是运输电气化的首选技术，将有助于平衡可再生能源电力供应的间歇性和消费者需求(负荷平衡)。简而言之，它们的高能量密度将使它们成为21世纪的关键技术，在应对气候变化方面至关重要。然而，为了实现锂电池性能的阶梯变化，以满足新市场的严峻挑战，如运输和负载平衡，以及未来的便携式设备，至关重要的是研究阳极、电解液和阴极的根本新想法和新方法，并将其研究持续多年，以实现其潜力。实现这一目标需要一种长期的战略方法，包括高风险的研究和持续的努力。在这里，我们建议探索新的想法和方法，继续调查我们之前的平台Grant中引入的主题，例如锂空气电池、纳米结构电极和结晶聚合物电解液，与国内外最好的团体接触，与私营和公共部门的利益相关者接触，并促进小组中最好的研究人员的职业生涯。

Rechargeable lithium batteries have transformed potable electronics (2 billion cells p.a. in 2009). They are a technology of choice for the electrification of transport and will contribute to balancing the intermittency of electricity supply from renewable sources with consumer demand (load levelling). In short, their high energy density will make them a vital technology in the 21st century, important in tackling climate change. However to achieve the step-change in lithium battery performance necessary to meet the formidable challenges of new markets, such as transport and load levelling, as well as future portable devices, it is essential to investigate radical new ideas and new approaches for the anodes, electrolytes and cathodes and to sustain their study for many years, in order to realise their potential. Achieving this goal demands a long-term strategic approach that embraces high risk research and sustained effort. Here we propose to investigate new ideas and approaches, to continue the investigation of topics introduced under our previous Platform Grant, e.g. the Li-air battery, nanostructured electrodes and crystalline polymer electrolytes, to engage with the best groups nationally and internationally, to engage with private and public sector stakeholders and further the careers of the best research personnel in the group.