Advanced surface modified materials for Li-ion batteries
Host organizations
Hiring Institution
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux (UMR5026)
PhD-Awarding Institutions
Université de Bordeaux (Ubx)
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Position Description
Proposed Projects
Option 1
Advanced materials for Li-ion batteries and stabilized solid-solid electrode-electrolyte interfaces
It is critical today to explore other strategies to increase the energy density delivered by Lithium-ion batteries and thus meet the ever-increasing needs of applications (transport, storage of renewable energies etc.) in terms of autonomy. All solid state batteries appear as the technologies of choice, by replacing the liquid electrolyte by a solid electrolyte and the graphite negative electrode by lithium metal. However, the challenges remain numerous, the main one being the control of chemical and mechanical properties at solid-solid interfaces.
The aim here is to use spinel type manganese-rich compounds at the positive electrode and to modify their surface by supercritical fluid chemical deposition process (SFCD). The objective of this project is to study, understand and control the deposition of different kinds of materials on the spinel type manganese-rich compounds. It will imply the investigation of the influence of the main parameters of the SFCD process through a deep characterization of the obtained materials, for instance by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM).
The project will be performed in close collaboration between EMU at UNSW (Australia – Expert in HRTEM) and Idelam company (France – Expert in development of SFCD-based technology), and ICMCB at Bordeaux University (France – Expert in the development of electrode materials for batteries and supercritical fluids).
Option 2
Stabilization of electrode-electrolyte interfaces in Li-ion batteries
It is critical today to explore other strategies to increase the energy density delivered by Lithium-ion batteries and thus meet the ever-increasing needs of applications (transport, storage of renewable energies etc.) in terms of autonomy. All solid state batteries appear as the technologies of choice, by replacing the liquid electrolyte by a solid electrolyte and the graphite negative electrode by lithium metal. However, the challenges remain numerous, the main one being the control of chemical and mechanical properties at solid-solid interfaces.
The aim here is to use spinel type manganese-rich compounds at the positive electrode and to study the stabilization of the electrode-electrolyte interfaces thanks to materials whose surface has been modified by supercritical fluid chemical deposition process (SFCD). The objective of this project is to study and understand the phenomena at the electrode-electrolyte interface with the new family of core-shell materials prepared by SFCD. It will imply, for instance, the investigation of this interface by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM).
The project will be performed in close collaboration between EMU at UNSW (Australia – Expert in HRTEM) and Idelam company (France – Expert in development of SFCD-based technology), and ICMCB at Bordeaux University (France – Expert in the development of electrode materials for batteries and supercritical fluids).
Option 3
Performance of Li-ion batteries with a new generation of positive electrode materials
It is critical today to explore other strategies to increase the energy density delivered by Lithium-ion batteries and thus meet the ever-increasing needs of applications (transport, storage of renewable energies etc.) in terms of autonomy. All solid state batteries appear as the technologies of choice, by replacing the liquid electrolyte by a solid electrolyte and the graphite negative electrode by lithium metal. However, the challenges remain numerous, the main one being the control of chemical and mechanical properties at solid-solid interfaces.
The aim here is to use spinel type manganese-rich compounds at the positive electrode coated by supercritical fluid chemical deposition process (SFCD). The objective of this project is to prepare the high energy density batteries, to study and to understand the evolution of the electrochemical properties as a function of the characteristics of the shell deposited at the surface of the spinel type manganese-rich compounds. It will imply, for instance, the postmortem investigation of the coating by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM).
The project will be performed in close collaboration between EMU at UNSW (Australia – Expert in HRTEM) and Idelam company (France – Expert in development of SFCD-based technology), and ICMCB at Bordeaux University (France – Expert in the development of electrode materials for batteries and supercritical fluids).
Supervisors
Research Areas
Supercritical Fluids, core-shell materials, advanced characterization, HRTEM, electrochemical energy storage, batteries, electrode-electrolyte interface, material sciences