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Battery Failure Mechanisms Analysis
Rechargeable batteries will eventually fail (as shown in a). A combination of advanced techniques (as shown in b-e) is necessary to fundamentally understand the failure mechanisms so that we can develop novel materials to improve cell performance within a short time range.
(Image credit: EuChemS/CC BY-ND)
Novel Electrode Materials
Achieving a zero-carbon transition will require meeting global energy demands with renewable sources of energy. Due to the intermittent nature of many renewable sources, achieving significant levels of integration will demand utility-scale energy storage systems. Li-ion batteries have dominated the market. However, rapidly growing demands in many technology sectors (e.g. electric vehicles, mobile electronics) aggravates the supply chain issues of critical elements, especially lithium, cobalt, nickel. This presents an urgent need of developing battery electrode materials with earth abundant elements (e.g. sodium, manganese) using sustainable technologies (e.g. dry-method).
Rational Aqueous and Non-aqueous Electrolytes Design
Electrolyte is the media providing the route for working ion transport between positive and negative electrodes. Tuning electrolyte composition could change working ion solvation structure (as shown in a and b), thus modifying electric double layer structures (as shown in c). As a result, the electrode interphasial chemistries and structures could be changed, which will dramatically affect battery performance.
Fundamental Safety Studies of Li-ion and Na-ion Batteries
Accelerating Rate Calorimetry (ARC) is used as the major method to study the reactions between charged electrode materials and electrolytes at elevated temperature. This is a significant step to leverage the safety performance of novel electrode or electrolyte materials before scaling up.
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