Project description
The foundations for the future of solid-state electrolytes
Modern batteries, fuel cells, and other electrochemical devices rely heavily on ion conduction in solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) but have long been limited by their intrinsically low conductivity. This challenge has driven interest in enhancing SSE conductivity. While research has shown that non-conductors can significantly influence SSE conductivity, efforts to improve it have so far been unsuccessful. The ERC-funded Interfacial Ionics project aims to investigate and unravel the fundamental mechanisms behind interface ion conductivity, enabling the development of tailor-made SSEs using oxide mixtures. The project will study model nanocomposite SSEs with oxides and employ various probing techniques to analyse interface compositions and other key factors.
Objective
Ion conduction in solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) is the bedrock of several electrochemical devices like batteries and fuel cells which are vital to our modern society. High conductivity is crucial for such applications, and increasing the intrinsically low conductivity of SSEs has been of enormous technological interest. The discovery that the conductivity of SSEs can increase or decrease by orders of magnitude at their interface with a non-conductor (e.g. oxides) has led to much interest in the use of interface engineering to rationally design SSEs with improved conductivity and overall performance in electrochemical devices. This has so far not been successful because the underlying mechanisms that lead to the profound changes in conductivity at interfaces are not yet well understood due to the complex composition of such interfaces, and the fact that several properties of the two components concomitantly influence this effect.
Building on my preliminary results, I aim to unravel the fundamental mechanisms of interface ion conductivity by preparing model nanocomposite SSEs (SSE + oxides) that will allow me to disentangle the different parameters that contribute to this effect. The interface physics/chemistry responsible for interface ion transport will be precisely tuned via surface and compositional modification of the oxides. I will combine advanced surface-sensitive probe techniques, including XPS, X-ray Raman Scattering, HR-TEM/EDX, and NMR to study the interface compositions. This will enable me to establish for the first time how the properties of SSE-oxide mixtures influence their interface reactions, conductivity, and performance in applications. Such fundamental insights will enable the design of novel SSEs with tailor-made properties for a variety of electrochemical applications. My extensive expertise and track record in nanocomposite materials, SSEs, and advanced materials characterization, place me in the perfect position to lead this project.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands
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.