New Vistas in Electrochemical Energy Storage

Abstract:
The widespread integration of renewable, intermittent energy sources such as wind or solar is dependent upon the development of efficient large-scale energy storage systems for load-levelling the electric grid.  Similarly, the acceptance of plug-in hybrid electric - and especially pure electric vehicles - hinges on the availability of intermediate scale, safe, low-cost energy storage batteries to provide driving ranges that greatly exceed the psychological barrier of > 300 miles. These approaches can help mitigate CO2 emissions and urban pollution, but it is widely acknowledged that traditional Li-ion batteries - which work on the principle of reversible storage of electrons and Li-ions in bulk materials - are approaching heir limits. 
This talk will present a perspective on the challenges, opportunities and perceived limits for future strategies for electrochemical energy storage that go “beyond Li-ion” batteries. Topics will encompass multivalent intercalation batteries based on Mg2+ or Zn2+ intercalation at the positive electrode that are coupled with metallic negative electrodes. Cells that operate on the basis of “chemical transformation” also represent exciting new technologies that could meet the needs for high energy density storage that go beyond Li-ion.  Nonetheless, they require thoughtfully designed nanomaterials for the cathode, different electrolyte strategies than those used for Li-ion batteries and advanced electrode architectures. Guiding materials development for both the positive electrode, negative electrode and electrolyte also requires developing an understanding of the underlying chemistry of redox processes. The talk will address aspects of fundamental investigations involving probes of structure-property relationships, redox chemistry and chemical speciation, along with new multifunctional nanostructured conductive materials for the electrodes which allow us to control chemistry at the electrolyte interface.