Hierarchical Nanostructures for Energy Applications

这项工作的重点是新型分层结构纳米材料在Li+， Na+， K+和其他多价离子电极材料中的应用。该项目将建立新的化学方法，用于将金属材料封装在碳纳米管中，对其进行表征，并将其应用于目标储能技术。这种分层材料已被发现具有理想的热性能和合适的纳米结构，以适应电化学应用的需求。纳米材料设计研究小组已经开发出了引人注目的碳纳米管大规模合成路线，促进了它们与我们在伦敦帝国理工学院的合作伙伴集成到硬币和袋式电池中。重点发展低成本、环保、适宜规模化生产的石墨纳米材料的合成。熟练和合适的材料将从硬币电池升级到袋电池，以评估制造策略/可扩展性。最先进的化学气相沉积合成技术与现场监测技术相结合，使我们能够设计碳纳米管的金属填充成分和形态，以调整其物理和功能特性。其他合成技术包括在所需要的金属填充的熔盐中电解和所选材料的蒸气填充。特定的合成方法将增强某些纳米材料的机械属性，允许多功能碳纳米管在保持电化学活性的同时承载机械负荷，适用于渐进式结构电池应用。透射电子显微镜将与扫描电子显微镜一起用于测量填充的程度和填充的纳米管的形态。这些技术将与能量色散x射线光谱和拉曼光谱相结合，以获得填充物的局部成分数据。电化学表征方法包括；伏安法，阻抗光谱，和电流循环。耦合电化学表征、机械测试方法或分析技术，如光谱学、成像或衍射，在原位或操作电化学循环中，对于深入了解材料功能和化学适用性至关重要，通常提供与性能直接相关的电化学、结构或光谱分析。最终提供一个反馈回路，以获得适用性，并允许对合成或封装化学进行修改。这项工作将分别与纳米材料和电化学表征领域的国际领先专家合作进行。该研究小组拥有广泛的工业合作伙伴，这些材料的实施将应用于电池技术。具体的表征技术将与亨利·罗伊斯研究所合作进行。传统上，设计纳米材料研究小组的学生被鼓励尽可能与学术合作者和行业合作伙伴合作。该项目属于EPSRC能源、工程、未来制造、物理科学研究领域。

The focus of this work is the application of novel hierarchical architectural nanomaterials in electrode materials designed for Li+, Na+, K+ and, potentially, other multivalent ions. The project will establish novel chemical methods for the encapsulation of metallic materials within carbon nanotubes, their characterisation, and application into targeted energy storage technologies. Such hierarchical materials have been found to possess desirable thermal properties and suitable nanostructures to accommodate the demands for electrochemical applications. The Nanomaterials by Design research group have developed compelling bulk scale synthesis routes for carbon nanotubes, facilitating their integration into coin and pouch cell batteries with our collaborator at Imperial College London.Emphasis will be placed on the synthesis of graphitic nanomaterials developed with low cost, environmental saving, and large-scale production appropriate. Proficient and suitable materials will escalate from coin cells to pouch cells to evaluate manufacturing strategies/scalability. State-of-the-art chemical vapor deposition synthesis techniques in conjunction with in situ monitoring technologies allow us to engineer the metallic filling composition and morphology of carbon nanotube to tune physical and functional properties. Other synthetic techniques include electrolysis in molten salts of the desired metallic filling and vapor filling of selected material. Particular synthesis methods will enhance mechanical attributes of certain nanomaterials, allowing multi-functional carbon nanotubes to carry mechanical loads whilst remaining electrochemically active, appropriate for progressive structural battery applications.Transmission electron microscopy will be utilised alongside scanning electron microscopy to gauge the degree of filling and morphology of the filled nanotubes. These techniques will be combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to obtain local compositional data on the filling. Electrochemical characterisation methodologies include; voltammetry, impendence spectroscopy, and galvanic cycling. Coupled electrochemical characterisation, mechanical testing methods or analytical techniques, such as, spectroscopy, imaging, or diffraction while in situ or in operando electrochemical cycling is crucial to gain insight into material function and chemistry suitability, often providing electrochemical, structural, or spectroscopic analysis which can be directly correlated to performance. Ultimately providing for a feedback loop to access suitability and allow for modification of synthesis or encapsulated chemistry. The work will be conducted in collaboration with the internationally leading experts in the fields of nanomaterials and electrochemical characterisation respectively. The research group has a range of extensive industrial collaborators and implementation of these materials will be applied into battery technologies. Specific characterisation techniques will be conducted in collaboration with the Henry Royce Institute. Traditionally, the students of the nanomaterials by Design research group re encouraged to engage with academic collaborators as well as industry partners wherever possible.This project falls within the EPSRC Energy, Engineering, Manufacturing the future, Physical Sciences research areas.