| NSF Org: |
CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | August 22, 2018 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | March 10, 2023 |
| Award Number: | 1804629 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Carole Read
cread@nsf.gov (703)292-2418 CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems ENG Directorate for Engineering |
| Start Date: | September 1, 2018 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2023 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $232,934.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $254,756.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2023 = $21,822.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
301 SPARKMAN DR NW HUNTSVILLE AL US 35805-1911 (256)824-2657 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
301 Sparkman Drive NE Huntsville AL US 35805-1911 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): |
GOALI-Grnt Opp Acad Lia wIndus, EchemS-Electrochemical Systems |
| Primary Program Source: |
01001819DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.041 |
ABSTRACT
There is a critical need to dramatically increase the integration of renewable energy in the electric grid. The inherently intermittent and diffuse nature of these renewable resources predicates the development of cost-effective, large-scale energy storage. Such storage capabilities offer the added benefit of contributing resilience to the electric grid, which is needed to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and other catastrophic events. Electrochemical energy storage technologies based on earth abundant and cost-effective materials are increasingly needed. The sodium ion battery and tin (Sn) based alloy anode materials are promising technologies for this application that needs high-capacity energy storage. Through this fundamental research project, stronger connection is made between the chemical and structural changes due to sodium storage in Sn-based alloys and the resulting performance of the sodium ion battery. The research project contributes to the education and training of both graduate and undergraduate students within a multidisciplinary research environment. The integrated education and outreach plan will create opportunities for graduate, undergraduate, and high school students to be involved in this research and places a strong emphasis on increasing the participation of students from underrepresented groups. Research findings will be integrated into the curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate level through lectures and laboratory classes. A library of open-source data generated from the comprehensive experiment, characterization, and simulation efforts will lead to the advancement of energy storage science. By facilitating the future development of sodium ion batteries, the project will help contribute to the societal need for cost-effective grid energy storage.
The principal objective of this research is to develop a comprehensive knowledge base and understanding of the chemical and structural transformations in high-capacity tin (Sn) based alloy electrodes for sodium ion batteries. This work is predicated on the hypothesis that changes in mesoscale morphology and chemical composition caused by sodiation contribute significantly to the irreversible capacity of such alloy electrodes. An experimental program including electrochemical testing, X-ray diffraction characterization of electrode crystal structure, and in operando X-ray tomography will be coupled with mesoscale computational studies of sodium ion battery electrode microstructures. This comprehensive research approach will test the above hypothesis by achieving these research objectives: (1) correlate changes in Sn-based alloy electrode crystal structure with electrochemical performance; (2) correlate multiscale alloy electrode morphology with structural and chemical changes; and (3) clarify the influence of electrode microstructure on the transport-electrochemistry interaction and performance. The research will provide insight into the interactions between microstructure, chemistry, and performance in sodium ion batteries. The combined experimental and computational approach will provide unprecedented details on the chemical and structural evolution of alloy electrodes due to sodiation. The insights gained will facilitate engineering of future sodium ion battery electrodes and will yield methods applicable to an array of electrode materials relevant to other battery chemistries. The proposed X-ray imaging and mesoscale modeling efforts will yield a documented set of 3D microstructural data, which will be disseminated through an open-source platform and will support future research and development.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The supported project focused on the study of high-capacity materials for sodium-ion batteries for energy storage. There is a critical need to increase the integration of renewable energy in the electric grid that predicates the development of cost-effective, large-scale energy storage. Adopting the lithium-ion battery as a large-scale grid energy storage technology is likely to place increased pressure on the limited global supply of lithium as several markets compete for supply. Electrochemical energy storage technologies based on more earth abundant and cost-effective materials can address this challenge. The sodium-ion battery is a promising alternative for cost-effective large-scale grid energy storage, and tin-based alloys are promising high-capacity electrode materials for these batteries. The supported research provides insights into developing these new batteries to facilitate grid integration of renewable energy resources.
The principal objective of this research was to understand the chemical and structural transformations in high-capacity tin-based electrodes for sodium ion batteries. This work focused on testing the hypothesis that changes in mesoscale electrode structure and chemical composition caused by sodiation contribute significantly to the irreversible loss of capacity. An experimental program including electrochemical testing, X-ray diffraction characterization of electrode crystal structure, and X-ray tomography was combined with mesoscale computational studies of sodium-ion battery electrode microstructures.
Initial studies focused on structural changes in the tin active material and the aggregate electrode for tin-based anodes using different binder types to hold the composite electrode together. Electrolyte composition and active material particle sizes were also varied. Structural changes in these anodes were observed with X-ray diffraction, X-ray microtomography, and scanning electron microscopy. Cycling and electrochemical characterization data was acquired to connect changes in the material with battery performance. These studies revealed that during cycling of high-capacity sodium-ion battery anodes the active material and supporting phases are altered by the cycling process. Active material changes result from sodium storage in the tin, which expands when sodium is added and collapses when sodium is removed. Changes in supporting phases are connected to the interaction between those phases with the expanding and contracting tin active material. Changes in the supporting phases can negatively impact pore networks in the electrode that support movement of sodium. This in turn degrades the battery performance.
The observed interaction between the active material and supporting phases led to studies pairing tin with hard carbon active materials, mirroring an approach to incorporating high capacity lithium-ion materials such as silicon. Studies of electrolyte composition effects were also continued. These studies focused on cycling and electrochemical characterization supported by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Results from studies of tin/hard carbon composite electrodes showed better capacity retention and cycling stability in cells with composite anodes. This improvement is attributed to hard carbon providing a buffer to volume expansion and contraction of the tin. The composite anode capacity retention is aided by additional storage capacity from the hard carbon, which is also an active anode material for sodium-ion batteries. These composite anodes provide capacities that are comparable to standard graphite anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Varying electrolyte composition revealed that durability of the tin electrodes can be improved by controlling the salt and solvent composition. This composition influences the properties of the solid electrolyte interphase layer of the active material.
Overall, the supported project led to an understanding of how various anode components—active material, binder, and electrolyte—can be tuned to yield more durable sodium-ion batteries. This understanding provides a foundation for creating future sodium-ion batteries that are a competitive, Earth-abundant alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Last Modified: 07/27/2024
Modified by: George J Nelson
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