New electrode materials in nano-scale dimensions

全球能源需求一直在加速增长，可再生能源是加拿大目前的战略计划之一。因此，对有效的储能方法的需求从未像现在这样强烈。锂离子电池(Lib)的单位体积储存的能量比任何其他便携式充电电池都要多。然而，未来LiB的能量密度只有通过对其活性材料进行根本性改变才能显著提高。我们的研究计划旨在使用通过创新的生物辅助和胶体金属合成路线制备的纳米材料来改进阴极和阳极材料。首先，我们建议在载脂蛋白笼中合成金属磷酸盐阴极材料，载脂蛋白是一种人体用来储存铁的蛋白质。磷酸盐的大小将被限制在蛋白质笼的大小(~8 nm)，与传统的合成方法相比，尺寸减少了近10倍。这应该会提供相当大的传导性增加。此外，使用室温合成取代高温固相方法将提供更环保的储能材料。第二，我们的目标是通过新的基于溶液的“自下而上”的纳米颗粒(NP)合成方法来减少LiB金属基阳极的非活性成分。我们将专注于金属电极，通过众多的合成参数(配体、温度、时间)来优化各种形貌(点、线、核/壳)。锂离子电池正极用胶体金属纳米粒子的优点是，它们的钝化保护了敏感元素的氧化，并防止了金属粒子与锂反应时的聚集。这将实现新的金属阳极，能够与大量的锂可逆合金化，从而提高电池密度。因此，我们的计划将结合纳米材料的新合成技术的元素，同时发展对最先进的纳米电极材料的基本了解，这将导致当今能量存储技术的突破。

The demand for energy worldwide has been rising at an accelerated pace and renewable energy is among Canada's current strategic plans. Thus, the need for effective energy storage methods has never been greater. Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) store more energy per volume than any other portable rechargeable battery. However, the energy density of future LIB will only improve significantly through radical changes to its active materials. Our research program aims to improve cathode and anode materials using nanomaterials prepared through innovated biologically assisted and colloidal metal synthetic routes. First, we propose to synthesize metal phosphate cathode material within an apoferritin cage, a protein used by the human body to store iron. The phosphate will be limited to the size of the protein cage (~8 nm), a nearly 10-fold reduction in size compared to traditional synthesis methods. This should provide a considerable increase in its conductivity. Also, the use of a room temperature synthesis instead of a high temperature solid state method will provide a more eco-friendly energy storage material. Second, we aim to reduce the inactive component of LIB metal-based anodes through novel solution-based "bottom-up" approaches to nanoparticle (NP) synthesis. We will focus on metal electrodes, optimizing various morphologies (dots, wire, core/shell) through numerous synthetic parameters (ligands, temperature, time). The advantage of colloidal metal NPs for LIB anodes is that their passivation protects sensitive elements towards oxidation and prevents the aggregation of the metal particles upon reaction with lithium. This will realize new metal anodes capable of alloying reversibly with large amounts of lithium leading to improve cell density. Our program will therefore combine elements of novel synthetic techniques for nanomaterials while developing a fundamental understanding of state-of-the-art nano-electrode materials that will lead to a breakthrough for today's energy storage technology.