Understanding Ion Mobility Mechanisms in Solid Electrolytes

The rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is now considered the technology of choice for energy storage in a wide array of portable electronic devices. However, its application is currently limited by its use of flammable and corrosive organic liquid electrolytes, which are known to pose a serious safety risk. As a result, in recent years, there has been a considerable push in the development of all-solid-state batteries and, in particular, the development of new solid electrolyte materials.

This project aims to design, synthesise and model new solid electrolyte materials for use in all-solid-state batteries. Understanding the often complex relationship between structure and functionality is key if the performance of both new and existing electrolytes is to be improved. During this project a number of different electrolyte materials, based on the garnet, anti-perovskite and spinel structures, will be prepared and characterised. To gain a comprehensive structural understanding, a number of complementary characterisation techniques will be used, including X-ray and neutron powder diffraction and multinuclear solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The effects of different synthetic methods and compositional doping will also be explored to determine their influence on the local structure and resulting conductivity. In addition, molecular dynamics and density functional theory simulations will be used alongside experimental methods to gain insight into feasible ion mobility mechanisms within such systems. The information gained will then be used to design new materials exhibiting optimal ion mobility.

ReNU's enhanced doctoral training programme delivered by three uniquely co-located major UK universities, Northumbria (UNN), Durham (DU) and Newcastle (NU), addresses clear skills needs in small-to-medium scale renewable energy (RE) and sustainable distributed energy (DE). It was co-designed by a range of companies and is supported by a balanced portfolio of 27 industrial partners (e.g. Airbus, Siemens and Shell) of which 12 are small or medium size enterprises (SMEs) (e.g. Enocell, Equiwatt and Power Roll). A further 9 partners include Government, not-for-profit and key network organisations. Together these provide a powerful, direct and integrated pathway to a range of impacts that span whole energy systems.

Industrial partners will interact with ReNU in three main ways: (1) through the Strategic Advisory Board; (2) by providing external input to individual doctoral candidate's projects; and (3) by setting Industrial Challenge Mini-Projects. These interactions will directly benefit companies by enabling them to focus ReNU's training programme on particular needs, allowing transfer of best practice in training and state-of-the-art techniques, solution approaches to R&D challenges and generation of intellectual property. Access to ReNU for new industrial partners that may wish to benefit from ReNU is enabled by the involvement of key networks and organisations such as the North East Automotive Alliance, the Engineering Employer Federation, and Knowledge Transfer Network (Energy).

In addition to industrial partners, ReNU includes Government organisations and not for-profit-organisations. These partners provide pathways to create impact via policy and public engagement. Similarly, significant academic impact will be achieved through collaborations with project partners in Singapore, Canada and China. This impact will result in research excellence disseminated through prestigious academic journals and international conferences to the benefit of the global community working on advanced energy materials.