Solid-State Electrolytes for Advanced Energy Storage

Achieving ambitious climate change targets (e.g., Clean Growth and Road to Zero strategies) demands electrochemical energy storage technologies with enhanced safety, stability and energy densities. Solid ion-conducting electrolytes are central to this mission and will facilitate both all-solid-state batteries and advanced chemistries based on a metal anode. However, materials that combine sufficient ionic conductivity with desirable processing and interfacial properties remain elusive. The aims of this project are to:
- Design new families of inorganic of solid-state electrolytes both in bulk (electrolyte) and thin film (protective layer) formats
- Test these components in traditional and beyond Li-ion cells
- Develop computational models for these systems and perform validation using experimental data and measured material properties
- Utilise cell performance and modelling results to optimise material and device design
Structural properties will be determined using x-ray and neutron diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Conductivity and stability will be assessed using a combination of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, in addition to charge/discharge behaviour. Analysis of cycled devices using, e.g., XPS, AFM, x-ray tomography will give chemical and physical insight at interfaces. Initially we will target crystalline Zintl phases and oxide thin films synthesized using scalable solution-based techniques. These relatively unexplored families with wide chemical tunability will function to test design principles for stable, ion-conducting solids fundamental to advanced energy storage.
- Design new families of inorganic of solid-state electrolytes both in bulk (electrolyte) and thin film (protective layer) formats
- Test these components in traditional and beyond Li-ion cells
- Develop computational models for these systems and perform validation using experimental data and measured material properties
- Utilise cell performance and modelling results to optimise material and device design
Structural properties will be determined using x-ray and neutron diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Conductivity and stablility will be assessed using a combination of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, in additon to charge/discharge behavior. Analysis of cycled devices using, e.g., XPS, AFM, x-ray tomography will give chemical and physical insight at interfaces. Initially we will target crystalline Zintl phases and oxide thin films synthesized using scalable solution-based techniques. These relatively unexplored families with wide chemical tunability will function to test design principles for stable, ion-conducting solids fundamental to advanced energy storage.