Objective "Lithium–air (Li-air) batteries have potentially much higher gravimetric energy storage density compared to all other battery chemistries. If successfully developed, this (charged) battery could compete with gasoline as an energy source for electric vehicles. However, in order to fulfill its promise and satisfy the key criteria for a practical electric vehicle propulsion battery, numerous scientific and technical challenges must be overcome. These include the voltage gap between the charge and discharge, inefficient cycling and limited practical specific energy. Like other battery technologies, its performance can be significantly improved by understanding the fundamental battery chemistry occurring during the electrochemical cycle. In the case of the Li-air battery the discharge and charge mechanisms are strongly dependent on the choice of electrolyte solvent, the presence of catalytic species in the cathode, which decrease the charging potential and surprisingly affect the capacity, and the porosity/surface area of the composite carbon cathode. A quantitative understanding of the electrochemical reactions (and parasitic side reactions) during the cell cycle is a necessary aspect in the development of a practical rechargeable Li-air battery. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) can allow us to monitor these chemical processes, providing unique molecular and atomic information on these often disordered and amorphous materials. Here we propose to apply existing and novel solid state NMR techniques in the study of Li-air batteries under ex-situ and in-situ operating conditions. By real time monitoring of the formation and disassociation of lithium containing species we expect to derive a mechanistic description of the cell's chemistry in the presence of various electrolyte environments and catalytic species, relate this to its electrochemical performance, and suggest how the cell can be improved." Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsliquid fuelsnatural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectric batteriessocial sciencessocial geographytransportelectric vehiclesnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkali metals Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE EU contribution € 209 033,40 Address TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS CB2 1TN Cambridge United Kingdom See on map Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Renata Schaeffer (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
