Enhanced X-ray Analysis and in-situ Measurements of Materials for Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies

我们研究小组的核心活动是开发能源转换和储存的可持续/替代系统，这对加拿大经济至关重要。材料和部件的发展在这些工艺的技术突破、效率提高和整体成本降低方面发挥着核心作用。我们目前的主要业务包括开发大型可充电MnO2/Zn电池的材料和催化剂、先进的锂离子电池、氢燃料电池、二氧化碳和废水转化为增值化学品、先进的电解、水处理、氢燃料电池和氢储存。我们实验室的研究人员通常通过各种方法制备材料，例如高能球磨，湿化学方法，电沉积和化学沉积以及固态反应。x射线衍射（XRD）是表征材料制备时、反应器和电池运行过程中和运行后不可缺少的工具。XRD使我们能够确定存在的晶体相，进行定量结构分析，并准确测量晶体尺寸。我们目前的XRD设备需要紧急更换，以保持研究的连续性，并升级软件进行高级相分析，这在目前是不可能的。此外，为了了解材料和电极的失效模式机制，需要在试样运行时进行x射线分析（例如，工作电池的x射线分析）。申请的资金将允许我们的研究人员使用包括x射线、拉曼和光学显微镜在内的多种技术进行这些关键的原位测量。没有要求的设备，我们就不能有效地进行研究。因此，迫切需要资金来购买台式和经济（但强大）的衍射仪，以满足我们不断增长的研究需求。

The core activities of our research group are development of sustainable/alternative systems for energy conversion and storage, which are vital for the Canadian economy. Development of materials and components play a central role in technological breakthroughs, efficiency improvements, and overall cost reduction of these processes. The current thrust of our activities includes development of materials and catalysts for large-scale rechargeable MnO2/Zn batteries, advanced Li-ion batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, conversion of CO2 and waster water to valued-added chemicals, advanced electrolysis, water treatment, hydrogen fuel cells, and hydrogen storage. Researchers in our lab routinely prepare materials by a variety of methods such as high energy ball milling, wet chemical methods, electro- and electroless deposition, and solid state reactions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is an indispensable tool for proper characterization of the materials as-prepared, during and after operation in the reactors and cells. XRD allows us to determine the crystallographic phases present, perform quantitative structure analysis, and measure crystallite sizes accurately. Our current XRD equipment requires urgent replacement to maintain research continuity, and software upgrade for advanced phase analysis which is not possible at present. In addition, to learn about the mechanism of failure modes of the materials and electrodes, X-ray analysis is required while the specimen in operation (e.g., X-ray analysis of a working battery). The requested funding will allow our researchers to perform these critical in-situ measurements using a number of techniques including X-ray, Raman and optical microscopy. Without the requested equipment we can not perform our research effectively. Hence, urgent funding is required to purchase a bench-top and economical (but powerful) diffractometer to meet our growing research needs.