TOPIC #24
Tailoring the pore structure of hard carbons for Na-ion batteries
Research area: Post Li-Ion Technologies
Keywords: Carbons; porosity; electrochemistry; Na-ion battery; storage mechanism
Supervising team: Raphaël JANOT (Université de Picardie Jules Verne) & Mathieu MORCRETTE (TIAMAT)
Abstract
The PhD project deals with the synthesis and fine characterizations of hard carbons used as negative electrode of Na-ion batteries. Hard carbons are disordered carbons materials able to store sodium following different mechanisms such as adsorption on defects, intercalation in turbostratic domains and filling of closed nanopores. The PhD will study in detail the relationship between the pore structure/texture of the carbons, the Na storage mechanisms involved during the electrochemical sodiation and the performances in Na-ion batteries. State-of-the-art characterization tools such as gas physisorption (N2, CO2, H2), Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis will be used. It is worth noting that in-situ electrochemical characterisations tools, especially those performed at large scale facilities such as synchrotron, will be also helpful for a better understanding of the sodium storage processes. These results will allow a better design of high-performance hard carbons, which will be tested in full cell configuration in collaboration with the Tiamat company.
Interest for the student
Expected mobility: The PhD student will undertake multiple short stays (typically 3-5 days per stay) at the ESRF synchrotron, Grenoble, France for performing SAXS and PDF measurements on hard carbon samples. This will also encompass the optimization of suitable electrochemical cells for in-situ synchrotron experiments, providing the student with high-level training in state-of-the-art characterization techniques. Owing to his secondment, the student will also interact very closely with the Tiamat company, especially, on the following two main aspects. First, Tiamat will provide hard carbon samples sourced worldwide from different companies, which will be studied during the PhD thesis. Secondly, the PhD student will perform electrochemical tests in full cell configuration at Tiamat on both these carbons and on bio-based hard carbons synthesized at LRCS, thanks to the knowledge gained during the PhD and our previous expertise. During this project, the PhD student will attend to at least one international and one national conference. Finally, the student could also attend to different summer schools on Neutrons and Synchrotron Radiation Science.
Career opportunities: The LRCS is one of the major partners of two renowned networks in the field of energy storage at the national and European levels, respectively, the RS2E and Alistore networks. This excellent scientific environment is therefore a strong asset for the scientific career of the PhD student: it will allow fruitful interactions with reputed scientists and thus enable the student to progressively build a strong and independent professional network. Moreover, the active involvement of industrial partners in both networks will also facilitate the search for a non-academic position. During this project, we expect that the student will acquire a strong experience in carbon synthesis, characterization using large-scale facilities and electrochemistry. LRCS and partners of this project are internationally recognized in those activities.
Contacts
IMPORTANT: you may contact the potential supervisors to have more information about the topic, however, sending them your application directly is not permitted.
