NANODENDRITE · Nanoscale dendrite formation and mitigation in high-energy density metal anodes
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2021-10-01 → 2023-09-30
- EU contribution
- €224,934
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Nanoscale dendrite formation and mitigation in high-energy density metal anodes
Efficient and sustainable energy storage and conversion technologies are essential to replace our reliance on fossil fuels and transition to cleaner, affordable energy sources. Batteries play an essential role in the electrification of society. However, to meet the demands of modern applications, we need better battery technologies that offer larger storage capacities. Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) currently dominate the market in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and short-duration grid-scale storage. These batteries typically use graphite as a host material to store lithium. Storing lithium directly as metal, without the need for graphite, could significantly increase the energy these batteries can hold. But there is a problem: lithium metal batteries can develop detrimental structures called dendrites, which cause capacity losses by death of active material and safety issues. Understanding when and how these problematic dendrites and dead lithium form is crucial to prevent these issues and make this technology viable. To address this challenge, the NANODENDRITE project focused on developing a new way to study how lithium metal gets stored within batteries. We have developed a modern electrochemical microscopy platform, allowing us to investigate battery processes at the nanoscale with high-throughput capabilities. By adding optical microscopy, we can dynamically watch lithium metal during battery operation. This new visualisation approach provides a promising avenue to find better strategies for smoother lithium deposition, which could lead to longer-lasting lithium metal batteries.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
High-energy density batteries based on metal anodes (Li, Na, K) are urgently required to meet the demands of modern electric vehicles. However, their commercial success has been impeded by the uncontrolled dendritic growth, which causes serious capacity losses and safety issues. Understanding the mechanisms of dendrite formation, which still remain unclear, would be a critical breakthrough to achieve high-performance metal anode batteries. This proposal presents an innovative new approach to provide a holistic understanding of metal dendrite formation and mitigation beyond the state-of-the-art that will accelerate the rational design of ideal anode materials, through the implementation of quantitative electrochemical microscopy techniques, co-located structural microscopy and computational modelling. The scientific scope encompasses gaining definitive insights on dendrite formation and mitigation by: (i) revealing precise conditions and intricate nucleation and growth events governing dendrite formation during the electrodeposition of Li, Na, K and Mg at the nanoscale using a unique high-throughput electrochemistry platform; (ii) visualising nanoscale electrochemistry at nano-engineered electrode surfaces to unveil how nucleation sites work together to achieve dendrite mitigation; (iii) correlating nanoscale knowledge of dendrite formation and mitigation to the performance of a macroscale battery through the rational design of anode materials. The project brings together the unique expertise of the Fellow, Dr. Daniel Martín-Yerga, in electrochemistry and nanoscience with that of the Host group, world-leading on correlative electrochemical microscopy and modelling, to create an approach that will greatly advance the battery field. The Fellow will acquire exceptional scientific and transferable skills, with world-class support from the Host group and its collaborators, providing him with an outstanding opportunity to develop personally and professionally.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK · COVENTRYCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union