Correlative Raman, SEM and EDX for operando electrochemistry research
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Chemistry
Abstract
The expansion in the use of renewable energy resources is not only of paramount importance, it is also urgent. Fossil fuels are limited in supply and their use entails devastating environmental consequences such as atmospheric pollution and climate change. Fortunately, major advances have been achieved in the generation of energy from renewable resources including sun and wind, but unfortunately, the energy is not generated when and where it is needed. This issue could be easily solved with batteries to store the energy, but unfortunately, batteries do not last long enough and they are too expensive. Batteries are also too heavy and bulky, and this is particularly problematic for zero-emission electric vehicles. It is clear that developing better batteries is crucial for the future.
We propose to set up a new capability that will revolutionize the tools we have to understand and design better batteries. The new capability will enable the characterisation of the chemistry, elemental composition and structure/morphology of batteries and battery components on a scale far below the diameter of a human hair. This will be achieved with an integrated instrument that uses an intelligent positioning system to precisely spatially correlate the morphological characterisation (done with an electron microscope), the elemental composition (done with a special element-sensitive detector) and the chemical structure (done with a Raman microscope). By bringing together these three techniques we will greatly improve our understanding of the complex and spatially heterogeneous reactivity of real battery materials. This will generate unique insights at the forefront of research worldwide for the design of new strategies to build better batteries.
We will establish an inclusive and collaborative research community around this new capability, binging together researchers in industry and university, and fostering innovative approaches and new research projects and directions. The new capability will facilitating cooperation, team work and scientific discussions among researchers with different backgrounds and areas of expertise.
We propose to set up a new capability that will revolutionize the tools we have to understand and design better batteries. The new capability will enable the characterisation of the chemistry, elemental composition and structure/morphology of batteries and battery components on a scale far below the diameter of a human hair. This will be achieved with an integrated instrument that uses an intelligent positioning system to precisely spatially correlate the morphological characterisation (done with an electron microscope), the elemental composition (done with a special element-sensitive detector) and the chemical structure (done with a Raman microscope). By bringing together these three techniques we will greatly improve our understanding of the complex and spatially heterogeneous reactivity of real battery materials. This will generate unique insights at the forefront of research worldwide for the design of new strategies to build better batteries.
We will establish an inclusive and collaborative research community around this new capability, binging together researchers in industry and university, and fostering innovative approaches and new research projects and directions. The new capability will facilitating cooperation, team work and scientific discussions among researchers with different backgrounds and areas of expertise.
Organisations
Publications
Shao L
(2023)
Fractal-like gold nanonetworks formed by templated electrodeposition through 3D-mesoporous silica films.
in RSC advances
Wang J
(2023)
Self-standing TiC-modified carbon fibre electrodes derived from cellulose and their use as an ultrahigh efficiency lithium metal anode
in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Zhu Z
(2023)
High Sodium-Ion Battery Capacity in Sulfur-Deficient Tin(II) Sulfide Thin Films with a Microrod Morphology
in Small Structures
Description | This grant has supported the acquistion of novel instrumentation that can be used to characterise the composition, structure and properties of materials and devices on the sub-micron scale. The instrumentation is now fully installed and operating correctly and it is bebining to be used to advance research in a number of fields including electronic devices, medical diagnostics, catalysts, and batteries and the first studies in these areas are now emerging. |
Exploitation Route | Through collaborative research to apply this instrumentation to new problems. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Energy,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Electrochemistry Northwest 2022 meeting, Liverpool (UK), 14th July 2022 (plenary lecture) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | N. Garcia-Araez "Fundamental developments of next generation of batteries and lithium production methods" Electrochemistry Northwest 2022 meeting, Liverpool (UK), 14th July 2022 (plenary lecture) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Faraday Institution Conference 2020 (online event), 25-26 November 2020 (oral presentation) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Nuria Garcia-Araez, "Correlative SEM, EDX and Raman characterisation of batteries" Faraday Institution Conference 2020 (online event), 25-26 November 2020 (oral presentation). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | QinetiQ Tech Talk, 16th August 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | QinetiQ Tech Talk, 16th August 2022 "New materials and characterisation techniques for battery development" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Royal Microscopical Society 2022 SEMT meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presetation on the new capabilities of the combined SEM and Raman instrument in electrochemistry |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.rms.org.uk/rms-event-calendar/semt-meeting-2022.html |
Description | SPIE conference, Henry Royce Institute, Manchester 7-8th September 2022 (invited talk) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Nuria Garcia-Araez "Fundamental developments of next generation of batteries and lithium production methods" SPIE conference, Henry Royce Institute, Manchester 7-8th September 2022 (invited talk) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |