Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Deconstructing the Electrode-Electrolyte Interface by Novel NMR Methodology

Project description

Powering next-gen battery efficiency

To tackle the escalating climate crisis, more efficient rechargeable batteries are essential for optimising sustainable energy sources. Current battery technologies fall short of meeting the demands for next-generation energy storage. A key challenge lies in understanding and controlling the chemistry at the electrode-electrolyte interface, where the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) plays a crucial role. The SEI must enable continuous ion transport, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. In this context, the ERC-funded SEISPY project aims to address this gap by using advanced NMR techniques to probe ion dynamics at the atomic level. The goal is to uncover SEI components and their roles in ion exchange, providing insights for designing superior, next-gen batteries.

Objective

More efficient rechargeable batteries must be developed for utilizing sustainable energy sources and stopping the rapidly advancing climate change. The current technology cannot be merely extended for the next-generation storage systems. New approaches are required, especially for understanding and controlling the complex chemistry at the electrode-electrolyte interface. It has already been established that such control can, in principle, be realized by the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), a stable passivating layer formed on the electrode. Such a layer should enable continuous transport of ions across it, but the fundamental understanding of what SEI components and architectures may give rise to such transport is not yet available. The ultimate goal of this ERC project is to establish structure-function correlation for the SEI by implementing methodologies for directly probing interfaces at the atomic-molecular level and for guiding the design of novel interphases.
We will achieve this goal by introducing to materials science a set of NMR 'tools' based on chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST), commonly used to study dynamics in biomolecular-NMR. Here we propose to develop variants of CEST to probe ion dynamics across the SEI. Implementing these new approaches in situ, we will disentangle the multistep transport process at the electrolyte-SEI-electrode interfaces. Coupled with sensitivity enhancement by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization from inherent polarization sources, we will identify the SEI components participating in the ion exchange processes. Integrating our results with the battery performance, we will determine the pathways and bottlenecks for transport across the SEI.
Applying advanced NMR methods combined with controlled surface chemistry to state-of-the-art battery materials, such as lithium and beyond metal anodes, high-energy cathodes and composite electrolytes, we will establish design rules for next-generation energy storage systems.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) ERC-2023-COG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
Net EU contribution
€ 2 228 750,00
Address
HERZL STREET 234
7610001 Rehovot
Israel
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 2 228 750,00

Beneficiaries (1)