Development of High-Performance and Safe Next-Generation All-Solid-State Na Batteries

在过去的几十年里，与化石燃料的消耗有关的全球能源短缺已经成为一个主要问题，导致对替代清洁能源的需求。锂离子电池（LIB）已经被开发出来，并且是最有前途的能量存储系统之一，特别是对于便携式电子设备甚至电动车辆（EV）。然而，对锂离子电池的巨大需求取决于锂资源的可用性，而锂并不被认为是地壳中丰富的元素。不幸的是，锂化合物的成本在过去几年中也迅速增加，导致LIB的价格增加。由于钠（Na）的高丰度、低成本和合适的氧化还原电位，钠电池被认为是传统锂离子电池（LIB）的理想替代品和补充，特别是对于大规模储能应用。在不同的钠电池系统中，固态钠电池（SSNB）是最有前途的候选人，由于高能量密度和高安全性，通过将易燃的液体电解质替换为不易燃的固态电解质（SSE）。然而，目前SSNB的发展仍然主要受到界面现象和其他关键基础科学和技术问题的限制。这项研究计划的长期目标是应用纳米技术和纳米材料来解决下一代固态钠电池的挑战，具有高能量密度，安全性和低成本。该研究计划建立在材料设计和合成，机理理解，电池器件制造等几个方面的基础上。长期目标将通过以下两个主题的短期目标来实现：i）合成高离子导电性、良好空气稳定性和电极相容性的基于硫化物的Na SSE; ii）合成新的基于卤化物的Na SSE; iii）通过原子层沉积（ALD）/分子层沉积（MLD）稳定电极和SSE之间的界面; iv）无阳极电极设计;以及v）对SSNB中的界面化学的深入理解。该项目的成功完成将通过向加拿大能源和纳米技术行业转移新的知识、专业知识和技术，加速固态钠电池的发展，直接减少环境污染，为加拿大工业和纳米技术界带来好处。此外，两名MESc学生和三名博士生将接受培训，为快速增长的电动汽车市场的关键职位做好准备，这将有助于缓解电池领域熟练本地人才不可避免的严重短缺。

Over the past decades, the global energy shortage related to the consumption of fossil fuels has become a major concern leading to the demand for alternative clean energy sources. Li-ion batteries (LIBs) have been developed and are one of the most promising energy storage systems, particularly for portable electronics and even electrical vehicles (EVs). However, the enormous demand for LIBs are dependent on the availability of Li resources, and Li is not regarded as an abundant element in the Earth's crust. Unfortunately, the costs of Li compounds have also rapidly increased in the past years, resulting in increased prices for LIBs. Due to the high abundance, low cost, and suitable redox potential of sodium (Na), Na batteries are considered as the ideal alternatives and complementarity to conventional Li-ion batteries (LIBs), especially for large-scale energy storages application. Among different Na batteries systems, solid-state Na batteries (SSNBs) are the most promising candidates due to the high energy density and high safety by replacing the flammable liquid electrolytes into non-flammable solid-state electrolytes (SSEs). However, the current development of SSNBs is still mostly limited by interfacial phenomena and other key basic scientific and technical issues. The long-term objective of this proposed research program is to apply nanotechnology and nanomaterials to address the challenges for next-generation solid-state Na batteries with high energy density, safety, and low cost. The research program builds on a couple of aspects of materials design and synthesis, mechanism understanding, battery device fabrication. The long-term objective will be achieved through the following short-term objectives in two themes: i) synthesis of high ionic conductive, good air stability, and electrode compatible sulfide-based Na SSEs; ii) synthesis of new halide-based Na SSEs; iii) stabilization of the interface between electrodes and SSEs by atomic layer deposition (ALD)/molecular layer deposition (MLD); iv) anode-free electrode design; and v) deep understanding of the interface chemistry in SSNBs. Successful completion of the proposed project will provide benefits to Canadian industry and the nanotechnology community by transferring new knowledge, expertise, and technologies to Canadian energy and nanotechnology industries, by accelerating the development of solid-state Na batteries and by directly reducing the environmental pollution. Furthermore, two MESc students, and three PhD students will be trained and prepared for key positions in the fast-growing EV market, which will help alleviate the inevitable critical shortage of skilled local personnel in the battery field.