The stress and strain behavior of materials for energy storage and production

Cason, Michael

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/78580 Copy

Description

Title

The stress and strain behavior of materials for energy storage and production

Author(s)

Cason, Michael

Issue Date

2015-02-20

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Nuzzo, Ralph G.

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Nuzzo, Ralph G.

Committee Member(s)

• Gewirth, Andrew A.
• Girolami, Gregory S.
• Murphy, Catherine J.

Department of Study

Chemistry

Discipline

Chemistry

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• platinum catalyst
• oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)
• tin electrode
• silicon anode
• alloying electrode
• Lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

The complex structural dynamics of materials systems involved in the production and storage of energy are examined in order to provide insight into the understanding and design of more effective systems. Within this dissertation, two categories of electrochemical systems are explored in the context of how their structural attributes relate to their function: high-capacity lithium-ion battery anode materials, specifically silicon and tin, and the surface stress changes of platinum, palladium, and rhodium catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction of fuel cells. In the first section, silicon microstructuring is utilized in order to design structures that can withstand the large volumetric strains associated with forming lithium rich alloys during the normal operation of lithium-ion batteries containing silicon active anodes. A unique microstructure design is used to direct lithium transport through the silicon in order to mitigate performance-limiting material failure during normal battery operation. Like silicon, tin suffers from a similar strain-related failure when operating as an alloying electrode in lithium-ion batteries. A tabletop surface stress measurement is performed to monitor the evolution of stress, in situ, as tin thin films are electrochemically lithiated. Tin films with varying oxide content are evaluated and an evidence of an unexpected reversibility of tin oxide conversion products is discussed. In the subsequent sections, platinum, palladium, and rhodium catalysts are examined in-situ during the oxygen reduction reaction. In particular, platinum surface atom bond distance changes are iii examined via X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), in particular Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS), and also with same tabletop surface stress measurement mentioned previously. The tabletop method shows loose quantitative agreement with the EXAFS measurement, suggesting that the method is capable of sensitivities necessary for observing structural dynamics relevant to surface-localized catalytic activity. Further work involving other catalysts, including palladium and rhodium, is therefore enabled and preliminary data is included and described in the appendix. Additionally, a critical review of the structural dynamics of supported nanoparticles is also included as an appendix.

Graduation Semester

2015-5

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78580

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2015 Michael Cason

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