Electrochemical and structural properties of superionic conductors in aqueous electrolyte
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2017.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2017
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/111335 |
| _version_ | 1826211414509879296 |
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| author | Jing, Linda Wei |
| author2 | Yet-Ming Chiang. |
| author_facet | Yet-Ming Chiang. Jing, Linda Wei |
| author_sort | Jing, Linda Wei |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2017. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:05:50Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/111335 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:05:50Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1113352019-04-12T08:41:33Z Electrochemical and structural properties of superionic conductors in aqueous electrolyte Jing, Linda Wei Yet-Ming Chiang. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Materials Science and Engineering. Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2017. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 49-50). The intermittent nature of renewable electricity generation has created a global need for low-cost, highly scalable energy storage. One potential solution is the low-cost air-breathing aqueous sulfur redox flow battery proposed by the Chiang group. Currently, the battery power output is significantly limited by high resistance from the membrane, a superionic conductor. This thesis investigates the electrochemical and structural properties of these superionic conductors (NaSICON and LiSICON) in aqueous electrolyte of varying pH to determine its suitability for this new battery chemistry. The membranes were characterized in acidic, neutral, and alkaline electrolytes through Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). NaSICON and LiSICON were stable in alkaline and neutral electrolytes, but unstable in acidic electrolytes. The major contribution to membrane instability in acidic electrolyte stemmed from its high interfacial area specific resistance (ASR) of 1.1 x 10³ and 9.5 x 10³ [omega]-cm² for NaSICON and LiSICON, which were 2 magnitudes above the bulk membrane ASR values of 68.6 and 101.0 [omega]-cm² all at 25°C. The high interfacial ASR were due to the incorporation of hydronium ions into the lattice structure and significant surface degradation. Twenty-four hours of exposure in acidic electrolyte resulted in micron-scaled cracks, and only a sparse network was observed after 170 hours. Based on these findings, the theoretical peak powers of the proposed flow battery are 17.1mW/cm² and 4.03mW/cm² for using NaSICON and LiSICON, respectively. For a battery with an alkaline electrolyte, NaSICON is the optimal choice. However, with an acidic electrolyte, further surface remediation methods must be explored. by Linda Wei Jing. S.B. 2017-09-15T15:29:39Z 2017-09-15T15:29:39Z 2017 2017 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/111335 1003290814 eng MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 73 pages application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Materials Science and Engineering. Jing, Linda Wei Electrochemical and structural properties of superionic conductors in aqueous electrolyte |
| title | Electrochemical and structural properties of superionic conductors in aqueous electrolyte |
| title_full | Electrochemical and structural properties of superionic conductors in aqueous electrolyte |
| title_fullStr | Electrochemical and structural properties of superionic conductors in aqueous electrolyte |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrochemical and structural properties of superionic conductors in aqueous electrolyte |
| title_short | Electrochemical and structural properties of superionic conductors in aqueous electrolyte |
| title_sort | electrochemical and structural properties of superionic conductors in aqueous electrolyte |
| topic | Materials Science and Engineering. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/111335 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jinglindawei electrochemicalandstructuralpropertiesofsuperionicconductorsinaqueouselectrolyte |