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H2020Individual fellowship2018–2020

NELMA · Nanoscale Electrochemistry on Light Metallic Alloys

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2018-06-01 → 2020-05-31
EU contribution
€183,455
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF-EF-ST

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Nanoscale Electrochemistry on Light Metallic Alloys

In the last decades, light metal alloys have received considerable attention due to their high specific strength, light density, recyclability, biodegradability and high theoretical density storage. Due to the combination of these unique properties, light metal alloys are in high demand for diverse practical applications: in space, automobile etc. industries as the structural material; in the energy sector for the replacement of Li-based batteries; and in biomedical applications as biodegradable bio-implants. All of these areas are of huge importance for the economy, quality of life and future technological developments in Europe. The main limitation for the widespread use of these materials remains the unknown mechanisms of their degradation and, as a result, absence of effective strategies of corrosion protection. It is known that light metal alloys are nanostructured to expose particular surface sites, but probing the intrinsic activity of these sites is usually beyond current experimental capability. In this project, we present a new tool that makes use of a special probe (known as “scanning probe”) to measure the functional properties of light metal alloys in minute detail in order to guide the development of more durable materials. In essence, we developed and implemented a range of “scanning probe” techniques to measure functional (electrochemical) information during metal dissolution with unprecedented spatial resolution, which is broadly relevant for corrosion applications. We effectively showed that this novel approach is generally applicable to the degradation of polycrystalline metals by applying it to study the corrosion of zinc and iron. In addition, we adapted the “scanning probe” technology to explore local properties of the double layer on metal interfaces, thereby complementing the toolbox of local electrochemical methods for materials characterization.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

This proposal presents unique approaches for the characterization of light metal (magnesium as an exemplar throughout) alloy interfaces at the nanoscale in aqueous media, through the implementation of innovative, quantitative high-resolution scanning electrochemical probe microscopy techniques. The overarching goal is to introduce new methodology that will enable a comprehensive understanding of the influence of nanoscale inhomogeneities in the dissolution of light metal alloys. The scientific scope of this project involves: (i) determining the behaviour of different individual single entities (such as grains, grain boundaries, inclusions) on the heterogeneous surfaces of Mg-based alloys at the nanoscale, isolated from the rest of the surface (ii); progressing to the visualization of interacting surface sites and associated reactive fluxes during alloy dissolution; and (iii) nanostructuring at the nanoscale, as a new way for the rational study of surface treatments to improve alloy durability, which are of fundamental and technological (e.g. structural application bodies, bioimplants, batteries etc.) importance. The research proposal is highly interdisciplinary, and there is a natural synergistic fit between the Fellow’s profile and activities at the Host Warwick group. The project brings together the considerable expertise of the Fellowship applicant in light metal alloys and corrosion with that of the Host group in frontier correlative electrochemical microscopy to create new approaches that will greatly advance this important field. With considerable support and world-class expertise from the Host group and its collaborators, this project will provide the applicant, Dr. Viacheslav Shkirskiy, with an outstanding opportunity to develop personally and professionally, by pioneering a new area of research in a new geographic location.

Original text from CORDIS.

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Data: CORDIS, © European Union