Structure and Properties of Halogen-Graphite Intercalation Electrodes for Low-Cost and High-energy Li-ion Batteries

“低成本高能锂离子电池用卤素-石墨层间电极的结构与性能”这项为期5年的研究计划旨在系统地了解一种革命性的高能锂离子电池(LIB)用无过渡金属正极。该项目将是Dalhousie-特斯拉合作伙伴关系的重要组成部分，该合作伙伴关系寻求更低成本和更高能量的LIB技术，作为电动汽车(EVS)和可持续绿色能源的下一代储能解决方案。作为达尔豪西大学物理和大气科学系的特斯拉加拿大主席，我将建立一个研究小组，并领导这个研究计划。尽管我成功地证明了这种电极的可行性和潜力，但其核心部件，即所谓的“卤素-石墨层间化合物”的潜在材料物理目前仍不清楚。在这笔赠款的支持下，我们将使用或建立一些尖端方法来系统地研究该材料家族的晶体结构、电子结构、动力学和热力学稳定性。通过与理论家的合作，将根据我们的实验结果进行理论建模，以解释和预测新的物理现象。在这项计划完成后，我们希望对这种卤素-石墨层间电极的形成和演变有基本的了解。此外，我完全可以访问杰夫·达恩博士领导下建立的世界领先的电池研究实验室之一。这项研究的所有重要发现将被用于电化学电池，以优化这种新的LiB电极。目前最先进的LIBS依赖昂贵的过渡金属(镍、钴、锰等)，阻碍了全球市场爆炸性增长所要求的能量密度和成本的进一步提高。在该计划的指导下，这种仅依赖于地球丰富材料的新型电极的成功商业化将为我们的能源和环境挑战提供解决方案，使加拿大和世界其他地区的电池研究界和普通公众受益。从根本上说，我们在这里提出的对这种独特的“卤素-石墨层间化合物”的更广泛的研究将涵盖这种材料的更多方面，这可能会揭示凝聚态物理中的新的和新的现象。更重要的是，这个由NSERC资助的项目将创造巨大的研究机会，以及一个多样化和包容性的环境，让所有背景和性别的高素质人员都能获得凝聚态物理和LiB研究方面的培训。

"Structure and Properties of Halogen-Graphite Intercalation Electrodes for Low-Cost and High-energy Li-ion Batteries" This 5-year research program proposed here aims at systematically understanding a revolutionary transition-metal-free positive electrode for high-energy lithium-ion batteries (LIB). This program would be a crucial part of Dalhousie -- Tesla partnership that seeks lower-cost and higher-energy LIB technologies as the next-generation energy storage solution for electric vehicles (EVs) and sustainable green energy. As the Tesla Canada Chair in the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science at Dalhousie University, I will build a research group and lead this research program. Even though I successfully demonstrated the feasibility and potential of this electrode, the underlying material physics on its core component, so called "halogen-graphite intercalation compound", currently remains unknown. With the support of this grant, we will employ or build up some cutting-edge methods to systematically investigate the crystal structure, electronic structure, kinetics, and thermodynamic stability of this material family. By collaborating with theorists, theoretical modeling will be conducted based on our experimental finding to explain and predict new physical phenomena. Upon completion of this program, we would expect to obtain fundamental insights on the formation and evolution of this halogen-graphite intercalation electrode. Moreover, I have full access to one of the world's leading battery research laboratories established under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Dahn. All the significant findings from this research will be leveraged in electrochemical cells for potential optimization of this new LIB electrode. Current state-of-the-art LIBs depend on expensive transition metals (nickel, cobalt, manganese, etc.), hindering further improvements in energy density and cost reduction as demanded by the exploding global market. With the guidance of this program, the successful commercialization of this new electrode that only relies only on the earth abundant materials would offer solutions to our energy and environmental challenges, benefiting both the battery research community and the general public in Canada and rest of the world. Fundamentally, the broader investigation on this unique "halogen-graphite intercalation compound" that we propose here will cover more aspects of this material, which will probably reveal new and novel phenomena in condensed matter physics. More significantly, this program funded by NSERC will create great research opportunities, as well as a diverse and inclusive environment for highly qualified personnel from all backgrounds and genders to access the training in condensed matter physics and LIB research.