Following Function in Real Time: Application of Magnetic Resonance Methods to Determine Structure and Dynamics in Batteries and Supercapacitors
Event details
| Date | 27.10.2016 |
| Hour | 16:30 › 17:30 |
| Speaker |
Prof. Clare Grey University of Cambridge, Department of Chemistry |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
The development of light, long-lasting rechargeable batteries has been an integral part of the portable electronics revolution. This revolution has transformed the way in which we communicate and transfer and access data globally. Rechargeable batteries are now poised to play an increasingly important role in transport and grid applications, but the introduction of these devices comes with different sets of challenges. New technologies are being investigated, such as those using sodium and magnesium ions instead of lithium, and the flow of materials in an out of the electrochemical cell (in redox flow batteries). Importantly, fundamental science is key to producing non-incremental advances and to develop new strategies for energy storage and conversion.
This talk will focus on our work on the development of methods that allow devices to be probed while they are operating (i.e., in-situ). This allows, for example, the transformations of the various cell components to be followed under realistic conditions without having to disassemble and take apart the cell. To this end, the application of new in and ex-situ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray diffraction approaches to correlate structure and dynamics with function in lithium- and sodium-ion batteries and supercapacitors will be described. The in-situ approach allows processes to be captured, which are very difficult to detect directly by ex-situ methods. For example, we can detect side reactions involving the electrolyte and the electrode materials, sorption processes at the electrolyte-electrode interface, and processes that occur during extremely fast charging and discharging. Complementary Ex-situ NMR investigations allow more detailed structural studies to be performed, to correlate local and long-range structure with performance.
Practical information
- Expert
- Free
- This event is internal
Organizer
- Prof. Ulrich Lorenz
Contact
- Prof. Ulrich Lorenz