Event Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Professor Steen Brian Schougaard
Department of Chemistry
Université du Québec à Montréal
Montréal (Québec) H3C 3P8 Canada
will present a talk entitled:
Measuring ultra fast lithium insertion/extraction kinetics
Abstract:
Arguably, electric and hybrid electric vehicles are the new frontiers for lithium batteries. As a new market it is distinctly different from mass produced microelectronics, not only in the energy per battery unit but also in the power performance requirements. Especially the required charging rates during deceleration and emergency charging, as well as, the discharge rates during startup from standstill are exciting challenges. Consequently new chemistry and new material morphologies like nanowires, shape controlled nanoparticle and size/shape controlled meso-scale agglomerates are being developed at an impressive rate.
Remarkably the question of what limits performance in lithium-ion batteries; the active material or the transport of electrons and/or ions in the electrolyte filled electrode structure, remains largely unanswered experimentally?
We have in responds developed a series of analytical techniques that allow for the study of the redox reaction kinetics without the use of composite electrodes. These include both in situ and ex situ detection schemes, as well as, several different redox systems appropriate for different positive electrode materials. A major advantage of our approach is that the reaction uniformity throughout the sample provides new kinetic insight, which can help to distinguish between possible reaction mechanisms, thus providing better fundamental understanding of both new and existing redox chemistries.
Visiting Speaker in Chemistry ~ Prof. Steen Brian Schougaard
