Enabling next generation lithium batteries

能量存储是我们这个时代的一个巨大的研究挑战：可充电锂离子电池(LIB)已经改变了便携式电子产品；它是电动和混合动力汽车的首选技术，它在电网规模的存储应用中发挥着关键作用，它可以促进更有效和更多地利用可再生能源。然而，今天的消费类电子锂离子电池不能简单地扩大到电动汽车或电网存储，新一代锂离子电池需要提供增强的组合和改善的平衡：成本(&lt；GB 100/kWh)、能量密度(&gt；300Wh/kg)、功率密度(&gt；2000W/kg)、安全性(尤其是耐火性)、日历寿命(&gt；10年)和寿命(&gt；3000个循环)。在过去，应对这些挑战的努力往往是基于个人研究人员或专注于科学或工程的团队。我们的愿景是，成功需要基础研究来克服这些障碍，但需要在一系列科学和工程领域采用综合方案，包括材料化学家、从纳米级到设备级的材料建模、制造工程师、现场表征技术技能，以及与供应链公司和最终用户的沟通。我们的研究跨越了LIBS的阶梯式变化，以及LIBS以外的更激进的想法和技术，例如锂空气电池。我们将确定新的阳极材料类别，以克服目前几乎所有商业LIB使用的石墨化阳极固有的安全性差和低功率的缺点。-开发3D聚合物/陶瓷互穿网络作为锂金属电极的保护膜，改变阳极的能量密度。-开发新型聚合物电解质及其加工方法，使锂电池中的易燃液体电解液成为可行的(且安全得多的)固态替代品。-确定并减少固体电解液-电极界面中的电阻源--通过使用固态电解液和涂层，使更高电压的阴极材料得以使用。-通过研究新的氧化还原中介分子以降低充电电压和电催化剂以提高放电电压，解决改变锂-空气电池游戏规则所面临的主要障碍。-使用创新的制造方法来生产3D和结构化的复合电极，以实现更高的能量密度。以及更高的性能和寿命。-将新材料和电极结构集成到实验室规模的电池设备中，从而展示我们进步的潜力-与英国和国外锂电池的所有利益相关者接触-成为锂电池的倡导者，传播结果。-培训一批有在一个团队中工作过的具有广泛科学和工程技能经验的人

Energy storage is a great research challenge of our time: the rechargeable Li-ion battery (LiB) has transformed portable electronics; it is the technology of choice for electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and it has a key role to play in grid scale storage applications where it can facilitate more effective and greater use of renewable energy. However, today's consumer electronic Li-ion batteries cannot simply be scaled-up for electric vehicles or grid storage, and new generations of lithium-ion batteries are required that deliver enhanced combinations and improved balances of: cost (<£100/kWh), energy density (>300 Wh/kg), power density (> 2000 W/kg), safety (especially fire resistance), calendar life (> 10 yrs) and lifetime (> 3000 cycles). In the past, efforts to address these challenges have often been based on individual researchers or groups focused on science OR engineering. Our vision is that success requires basic research to tackle these hurdles, but one that employs an integrated programme across a range of science and engineering uniting materials chemists, materials modelling across lengths from the nano-scale to the device-scale, manufacturing engineers, skills in in-situ characterization techniques, in communication with supply chain companies and end-users. Our research spans step-changes in LiBs as well as more radical ideas and technologies beyond LiBs, such as the lithium-air battery. We will- Identify new classes of anode materials to overcome the disadvantages of poor safety and low power inherent to the graphitic anodes currently used in almost all commercial LIBs. - Develop 3D polymer/ceramic interpenetrating networks as protective membranes for lithium metal electrodes, transforming the energy density of the anode.- Develop novel polymer electrolytes and methods to process them, leading to the viable (and much safer) solid-state alternatives to flammable liquid electrolytes in lithium batteries.- Identify and reduce sources of resistance in solid electrolyte-electrode interfaces - Enable the use of higher voltage cathode materials via the use of solid-state electrolytes and coatings.- Address the major hurdles facing the realisation of the game changing lithium-air battery by investigating new redox mediating molecules to reduce charging voltages and electrocatalysts to increase discharge voltages.- Use innovative manufacturing methods to produce 3D and structured composite electrodes to achieve increased energy density, and higher rate performances and lifetime.- Integrate the new materials and electrode structures into lab scale battery devices thus demonstrating the potential of our advances- Engage with all stakeholders in lithium batteries in the UK and abroad - be an advocate for Li batteries, disseminate results.-Train a new cohort of people with experience of working in a team spanning a wide range of science and engineering skills