In order to achieve voltages above 4V, cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries are, for the most part, focused on nickel manganese oxides whilst also containing a variable content of cobalt. This is an issue when tackled from an environmental perspective, as cobalt is an undesired element. Polyionic materials are a good alternative to cobalt-based cathode materials. Lithium iron phosphate is frequently used in portable electronics and the automitive industry as the most common polyionic cathode material.
This project aims to focus on potential novel polyionic materials since they appear to demonstrate a higher capacity due to rearrangement of the electron distribution in the polyanionic structure throughout the battery cycles, thus providing a route to novel cobalt-less materials. These materials are also studied for applications in sodium-ion batteries.
The electron distribution in these materials will be studied using multiple experimental techniques such as X-Ray Raman Scattering, soft X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy, as well as other techniques available on national synchrotron facilities. Syntheses of materials and assembly and electrochemical characterisation of batteries will also take place and potentially, atomistic models will be used to interpret experimental data.