ongoing

This project aims to better understand local electrochemical processes governing the operation of lithium ion batteries

Project Insights

  • €628,349

    Total Project Costs
  • 4 yr

    Project Duration
  • 2018

    Year Funded

Project Description

Local potentials, electrochemical reactions, and ion dynamics at solid-liquid interfaces govern processes including corrosion, sensing, and energy conversion and storage. In many cases, these processes are influenced by grain boundaries, step edges, and point defects and possess complex time- and bias-dependent dynamics. To probe these fundamental processes at the solid-liquid interface requires time-resolved electrical and electrochemical measurements with nanoscale resolution. The project propose to develop novel atomic force microscopy techniques and diamond probes (in collaboration with Irish SME Adama Innovations) for electrical and electrochemical measurements in electrolyte solutions with up to nm resolution, enabling to understand the properties and behaviour of materials at their functional length scales. The project team will apply these techniques to better understand local electrochemical processes governing the operation of lithium ion batteries and solve problems associated with the conductivity of nanowire-collector contacts, the stability of passivation layers, and cycling-induced morphology changes of nanowire anodes, which must be addressed to improve the capacity of nanowire-based lithium ion batteries. Improved capacities will increase the range of electric vehicles and have beneficial environmental and societal impacts.

Project Details

Total Project Cost: €628,349

Funding Agency: Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

Year Funded: 2018

Lead Organisation: University College Dublin (UCD)

Brian Rodriguez

Lead Researcher