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Engineering topics

Dillon, Anne C.

Publications and source records attributed to Dillon, Anne C..

Method of fabricating electrodes including high-capacity, binder-free anodes for lithium-ion batteries

An electrode (110) is provided that may be used in an electrochemical device (100) such as an energy storage/discharge device, e.g., a lithium-ion battery, or an electrochromic device, e.g., a smart window. Hydrothermal techniques and vacuum filtration methods were applied to fabricate the electrode (110). The electrode (110) includes an active portion (140) that is made up of electrochemically active nanoparticles, with one embodiment utilizing 3d-transition metal oxides to provide the electrochemical capacity of the electrode (110). The active material (140) may include other electrochemical materials, such as silicon, tin, lithium manganese oxide, and lithium iron phosphate. The electrode (110) also includes a matrix or net (170) of electrically conductive nanomaterial that acts to connect and/or bind the active nanoparticles (140) such that no binder material is required in the electrode (110), which allows more active materials (140) to be included to improve energy density and other desirable characteristics of the electrode. The matrix material (170) may take the form of carbon nanotubes, such as single-wall, double-wall, and/or multi-wall nanotubes, and be provided as about 2 to 30 percent weight of the electrode (110) with the rest being the active material (140).

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Lithium battery electrodes with ultra-thin alumina coatings

Electrodes for lithium batteries are coated via an atomic layer deposition process. The coatings can be applied to the assembled electrodes, or in some cases to particles of electrode material prior to assembling the particles into an electrode. The coatings can be as thin as 2 .ANG.ngstroms thick. The coating provides for a stable electrode. Batteries containing the electrodes tend to exhibit high cycling capacities.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Electrochromic performance of nanocomposite nickel oxide counter electrodes containing lithium and zirconium

Nickel oxide materials are suitable for counter electrodes in complementary electrochromic devices. The state-of-the-art nickel oxide counter electrode materials are typically prepared with multiple additives to enhance peformance. Herein, nanocomposite nickel oxide counter electrodes were fabricated via RF magnetron co-sputtering from Ni-Zr alloy and Li2O ceramic targets. The as-deposited nanocomposite counter electrodes were characterized with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). It was found that the stoichiometry, crystal structure and electronic structure of the nickel oxide-based materials could be readily tuned by varying the Li2O sputter deposition power level. Comprehensive electrochromic evaluation demonstrated that the performance of the nickel oxide-based materials was dependent on the overall Li stoichiometry. Overall, the nanocomposite nickel oxide counter electrode containing lithium and zirconium synthesized with a Li2O deposition power of 45 W exhibited the optimal performance with an optical modulation of 71% and coloration efficiency of 30 cm2/C at 670 nm in Li-ion electrolyte.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Direct synthesis of thermochromic VO{sub 2} through hydrothermal reaction

Thermochromic VO{sub 2} was directly synthesized using hydrothermal techniques. The effects of formation conditions on the structure and morphology of the final product were studied through X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Unique hollow sphere morphology was observed for the synthesized VO{sub 2} powders. Ex-situ XRD studies after heat treatment confirmed the thermal stability of the VO{sub 2} structure. Thermochromic properties, as a consequence of the reversible structural transformation between monoclinic VO{sub 2} and tetragonal phases, were observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). - Graphical abstract: Thermochromic VO{sub 2} crystals with hollow spherical and asterisk shape were directly synthesized using hydrothermal techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies confirmed the thermal stability and the reversible thermochromic properties of the VO{sub 2} structure. - Highlights: • One-step synthesis of thermochromic VO{sub 2} monoclinic phase, and VO{sub 2} (A and B phases) using hydrothermal technique. VO{sub 2} (A), VO{sub 2} (B). • Identification of the relationship between synthesis conditions and the morphology/structure of the final products. • Formation of VO{sub 2} monoclinic phase with an interesting hollow sphere shape. • Demonstration of superior thermal stability of the VO{sub 2} monoclinic phase. • Characterizing the thermochromic properties of VO{sub 2} monoclinic phase.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗