Fast ion-conductors, especially those conductive for lithium and sodium cations, have been the subject of intense (re)investigation lately in the context of electrochemical applications, most notably as solid electrolytes in all-solid-state-batteries. In that context, ions need to travel macroscopically (i.e. in the μm-mm scale) between electrodes to charge and discharge the cell. As such,...
The demand for energy storage is expected to increase dramatically due to the introduction of electric vehicles and the need for load levelling in the wind, tidal and solar renewables industries. The scarcity of lithium together with issues over supply from remote or politically sensitive areas, has led to concerns over cost. Sodium-ion batteries are a particularly attractive alternative for...
Over the past two decades, the study of solid oxide electrolytes and their usage in various technological applications, such as batteries, chemical sensors, and fuel cells has developed into an extremely important field within materials science research. This development is driven by the need for cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy, which is one of the grand challenges in the 21st...
composite polymer membranes made out of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) forests. As this system shows no tortuosity and no friction at the electrolyte / CNT interface, the transport properties within the pore system (the interior of the CNTs) are expected to be tremendously enhanced. We actually have recently shown1 that, compared to the bulk situation, such 1D CNT nanometric...
Solid oxide ion conductors are remarkable materials with significant market potential due to their importance in technological applications like oxygen sensors, fuel cells and separation membranes. A crucial factor for advancement of their applicability is the development of new oxide ion conductors with higher conductivities at lower temperatures. Detailed knowledge of the structural...
