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Diffuson-related transport in ionically conducting solids

Project description

Research bridges ion and heat transport mechanisms in ionic materials

Ion and heat transport in ionic conductors are traditionally viewed as separate phenomena. Ion transport involves local jumps, whereas heat transport is being mediated by dynamic lattice vibrations called phonons. However, recent research has highlighted gaps in this understanding, particularly in how phonons interact with mobile ions. This suggests that current models may be incomplete. The ERC-funded DIONISOS project will investigate how local vibrational modes, quantised as diffusons, govern both ion and heat transport. By analysing specially designed materials, researchers should establish a unified analytical relationship between these processes. Their research could help advance the design of high-performance materials and deepen our understanding of how local structural dynamics influence global material properties.

Objective

In DIONISOS, we aim to develop new analytical relationships for ion- and heat-transport in ionic
conductors, and thus heal significant inconsistencies of the current understanding. Currently ion- and
heat transport are interpreted as unrelated phenomena; ion transport being based on local jumps,
whereas heat transport being mediated by dynamic lattice vibrations called phonons.

Among other studies, my pioneering works in the field of solid ionic conductors (J. Am. Chem. Soc.
2017, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018) opened discussions about plausibility-gaps in state-of-the-art
concepts, in particular regarding interactions of phonons with mobile ions. Our work has shown that
by tailoring the lattice dynamics and vibrational properties of materials, the ionic transport can be
affected, which cannot be explained well by current models.

To this end, we propose to analyze both ion- and heat-transport in several representative materials,
designed for the purpose, to test our hypothesis that it is not a classical phonon phenomenon, but
rather local vibrations, quantized by the diffuson, that dominate the heat and ionic transport in fast
ionic conductors.

DIONISOS will thus provide an in-depth fundamental understanding of how local vibrational modes
connect thermal to ionic transport, and ideally a new analytical relationship. A unified understanding
of thermal transport and ionic transport will pave the way for further research on how local structural
phenomena affect global materials properties. In addition, a theory of linking local ionic motion with
local thermal motion will be of vast value for the design of high-performance functional materials.

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HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2023-COG

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Host institution

UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 999 750,00
Address
SCHLOSSPLATZ 2
48149 Muenster
Germany

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Münster Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 999 750,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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