DC07 - Politecnico di Torino - Italy

Title: Development and advanced electrochemical investigation of novel polymer electrolytes for solid-state Li Metal batteries

Objective:

DC7 will develop different single-ion block copolymer (SIBCs) in close collaboration with LIST and use them to prepare polymer electrolyte membranes for advanced solid-state Li Metal Polymer (LMP) batteries by different processes (including extrusion, UV and/or thermal curing, coagulation bath, etc.). The so developed polymers will be deeply investigated by advanced physico-chemical techniques. In particular the work will include the following main topics: i) investigation of compatibility of the polymer electrolytes with Li metal negative electrode as well as high-voltage cathodes (e.g., NMC, LMFP, LNMO), ii) polymers application both as electrolyte separators and as binders in cathode films, iii) advanced electrochemical characterization (EIS, CV, galvanostatic cycling, in a wide temperature range, and including operando), also correlated with the computational modelling performed in collaboration with UU, iv) optimization of the materials to suppress dendrite growth and to promote the ion diffusion by using specifically selected and/or developed additives, v) characterization of composite electrode/electrolyte networks by thermal, mechanical, and surface analysis, and vi) assembly and testing of laboratory-scale all-solid-state LMP cells with optimized materials and components, with the prospect of scaling up into larger-scale devices at COMAU battery facilities.

Expected results:

DC7 will develop novel solid SIBC-based polymer electrolytes to promote the suppression of Li dendrite growth and ensure high Li mobility; SIBCs will be also used as active binder in composite cathode materials to allow for high-voltage stability. She/he will perform advanced characterization of the materials in bulk and at the interface with negative and positive electrodes. Materials will target excellent ionic conductivity (≥10-4 S/cm at RT), high reversible capacity (≥180 mAh/g at high active material loading >75%), optimal interfacial stability for long-term reversible lithium plating/stripping. Results of advanced electrochemical characterisation, also coupled with computational modelling (refined in collaboration with DC3 in UU), will guide the development of the SIBCs by DC5 at LIST. Further on, DC7 will assemble lab-scale all-solid-state LMP cell prototypes demonstrating long-term reversible cycling, high energy and targeting high rate of charge/discharge at RT. The lab-scale process will be developed with a focus on its scalability to pre-industrial pilot scale in close collaboration with COMAU, in order to optimize the materials for integration in real battery cells (>100 mAh in pouch cell configuration).

The selection process for this position is closed.

SUPERVISORS

Prof. Dr. Claudio Gerbaldi
Dr. Giuseppe A. Elia
Dr. Alessandro Piovano
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Luxembourg
Uppsala University, Sweden
COMAU, Grugliasco, Italy

Politecnico di Torino

Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, 10129 Torino TO, Italia