Developing a sustainable energy infrastructure for the 21st century requires the large scale development of renewable energy resources. Fully exploiting these inherently intermittent supplies will require advanced energy storage technologies, with rechargeable Li-ion and Na-ion batteries considered highly promising for both vehicle electrification and grid storage applications. However, the performance required of battery materials has not been achieved, and significant improvements are needed. Modern computational techniques allow the elucidation of structure-property relationships at the atomic level and are valuable tools in providing fundamental insights into novel materials. Therefore, in this thesis a combination of atomistic simulation and ab initio density functional theory (DFT) techniques have been used to study a number of potential battery cathode materials. Firstly, Na2FePO4F and NaFePO4 are interesting materials that have been reported recently as attractive positive electrodes for Na-ion batteries. Here, we report their Na-ion conduction behaviour and intrinsic defect properties using atomistic simulation methods. Na+ ion conduction in Na2FePO4F is predicted to be two-dimensional (2D) in the interlayer plane. Na ion migration in NaFePO4 is restricted to the [010] direction along a curved trajectory, leading to quasi-1D Na+ diffusion. Furthermore, Na/Fe antisite defects are predicted to have a lower formation energy in NaFePO4 than Na2FePO4F. The higher probability of tunnel occupation with a relatively immobile Fe2+ cation - along with a greater volume change on redox cycling - contributes to the poor electrochemical performance of NaFePO4. Secondly, work on the Na2FePO4F system is extended to include investigation of the surface structures and energetics. The equilibrium morphology is found to be essentially octagonal, compressed slightly along the [010] direction, and is dominated by the (010), (021), (122) and (110) surfaces. The calculated growth morphology is a more ``rod-like'' nanoparticle, with the (021), (023), (110) and (112) planes predominant. The (010) surface lies parallel to the Na layers in the ac plane and is unlikely to facilitate Na+ intercalation. As such, its prominence in the equilibrium morphology, and absence from the growth morphology, suggests nanoparticles synthesised in a kinetically limited regime should provide higher rate performance than those synthesised in close to equilibrium conditions. Surface redox potentials for Na2FePO4F derived using DFT vary between 2.76 - 3.37 V, in comparison to a calculated bulk cell voltage of 2.91 V. Most significantly, the lowest energy potentials are found for the (130) and (001) planes suggesting that upon charging Na+ will first be extracted from these surfaces, and inserted lastly upon discharging. Thirdly, the mixed phosphates Na4M3(PO4)2P2O7 (M=Fe, Mn, Co, Ni) are explored as a fascinating new class of materials reported to be attractive Na-ion cathodes, displaying low volume changes upon cycling indicative of long lifetime operation. Key issues surrounding intrinsic defects, Na-ion migration mechanisms and voltage trends have been investigated through a combination of atomistic energy minimisation, molecular dynamics and DFT simulations. The MD results suggest Na+ diffusion extends across a 3D network of migration pathways with an activation barrier of 0.20-0.24 eV, and diffusion coefficients (DNa) of 10-10-10-11 cm2s-1 at 325 K, suggesting high rate capability. The cell voltage trends, explored using DFT methods, indicate that doping the Fe-based cathode with Ni can significantly increase the voltage, and hence energy density. Finally, DFT simulations of K+-stabilised α-MnO2 have been combined with aberration corrected-STEM techniques to study the surface energetics, particle morphologies and growth mechanism. α-K0.25MnO2 grown through a hydrothermal synthesis method is found to produce primary nanowires with preferential growth along the [001] direction. Primary nanowires attach through a shared (110) interface to form larger secondary nanowires. This is in agreement with DFT simulations with the {100}, {110} and {211} surfaces displaying the lowest surface energies. The ranking of surface energies is driven by Mn coordination environments and surface relaxation. The calculated equilibrium morphology of α-K0.25MnO2 is consistent with the observed primary nanowires from high resolution electron microscopy images.

No description available.

Nowadays, low carbon economy becomes a significant topic over the world. Due to the decreasing amount of fossil energy source and the worsening environmental pollution, traditional energy sources should be transferred to renewable energy sources. A transition to renewable energy will require radical changes to systems and technologies for energy storage. Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries are now considered as the most important electrochemical energy source for portable devices, electrical vehicles and expected to be used in grid electrical energy storage. Beside on Li-ion batteries, sodium ion (Na-ion) batteries are another promising energy source, which have the advantages in cost, safety and environmental factors, and they could be used for stationary energy storage systems and large vehicles. Tin-based nanocomposites are promising to replace the traditional graphite for Li-ion batteries to achieve a higher battery performance. In 2005, Sony Corporation launched the first Sn-based anode Li-ion batteries (Nexelion) to obtain a 50% increase in volumetric capacity over the conventional battery, which marked Li-ion batteries to enter into a new cutting edge. However, Sn-based materials faced with challenges. The battery performance was limited by a low cycling life and low rate performance, and methods should be devised to overcome these shortcomings. In this thesis, SnO2-based nanocomposites, including the graphene-SnO2, the carbon-coated graphene-SnO2 and the carbon-coated nanostructured SnO2 have been prepared and investigated as anodes for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. The microstructure, electrochemical performances and even the degradation mechanisms have been investigated as the effects for different composite materials. Chapter 4 reports an amorphous carbon coated graphene-SnO2 composite which exhibited an enhanced cycling stability. In previous researches, the performance enhancements of that type of materials were commonly attributed to the carbon coating enhancing the electronic conductivity. However, it is found that the carbon coating deeply relates to the microstructure stability of the active materials, the performance enhancement can be attributed to the enhancement of structural stability. Chapter 5 reports same composites with various graphene to amorphous carbon mass ratios. In this chapter, we try to find out the optimized composition and understanding the different roles of graphene and amorphous carbon in that type of composites. It is found that an optimised graphene to carbon mass ratio can effectively enhance the structural stability and the electrode conductivity. Chapter 6 reports a carbon-coated flower-like nanostructured SnO2 for Na-ion battery application, which has been demonstrated to have a high reversible capacity and high rate performance. The carbon coating is found to help in the formation of a high quality solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on the surface of the active materials. These researches focus on modifying SnO2 and SnO2-based materials by carbon coating technologies, which aim to develop novel electrode materials to obtain a better battery performance for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries.

Au vu d’une demande croissante pour un stockage d’énergie à grande échelle, il est préférable de se tourner vers des matériaux peu coûteux et répandus. De ce point de vue, le sodium, qui présente des caractéristiques très proches de celles du lithium, présente également l’avantage d’être peu coûteux, abondant et réparti uniformément dans le monde. Cette thèse porte sur l’étude d’un système complet Na-ion constitué d’un carbone dur à l’électrode négative et d’un oxyde lamellaire à l’électrode positive. Un volet sur l’électrolyte a également été abordé.Concernant l’électrode négative, l’influence de la température de pyrolyse de la cellulose sur la structure des carbones durs et sur les performances électrochimiques a été étudiée. Une graphitisation localisée, une fermeture des pores et une évolution de la porosité interne avec la température de pyrolyse ont pu être observées. Les meilleures performances électrochimiques ont été obtenues pour le matériau synthétisé à 1600 °C : une capacité réversible d’environ 300 mAh.g-1 stable sur 200 cycles est atteinte à 37,2 mA.g-1 avec une efficacité coulombique initiale de 84 %. Pour mieux comprendre les mécanismes d’insertion du sodium dans ces matériaux, des études par spectroscopie d’impédance, SAXS et EDX ont été réalisées sur des carbones durs cyclés à différents potentiels.Le matériau d’électrode positive choisi est l’oxyde lamellaire Na0,6Ni0,25Mn0,75O2. L’influence de la température de calcination a permis de faire varier le nombre de défauts d’empilement de type P3 au profit d’une phase P2 plus cristalline. Après avoir optimisé l’électrolyte à base de carbonates pour garantir la reproductibilité des tests oxyde lamellaire//sodium métal, une capacité d’oxydation de 130 mAh.g-1 a pu être atteinte au premier cycle avant de chuter fortement sur les 40 cycles suivants. Cette perte de capacité a pu être en partie expliquée par des études de DRX operando. Enfin, ces travaux ont permis d’aboutir à des systèmes complets Na-ion dont les premiers résultats sont prometteurs. / Because of the development of renewable energy and electric vehicles, the need for a large scale energy storage has increased. This type of storage requires a large amount of raw materials. Therefore low cost and abundant resources are necessary. Consequently the use of sodium batteries is of interest because sodium’s low cost, high abundance, and worldwide availability. This PhD thesis deals with the study of a full Na-ion cell containing a hard carbon negative electrode, and a layered oxide positive electrode. A shorter part concerns the electrolyte.Concerning the negative electrode, the first objective was to understand in detail the influence of the pyrolysis temperature of a hard carbon precursor, cellulose, on the final structure of the material and its consequences on the electrochemical performance. Many techniques were used to characterize the hard carbon structure as a function of the pyrolysis temperature. Localized graphitization, pore closure, and an increase in micropore size have been observed with increasing temperature. The best electrochemical performance has been reached with the hard carbon synthesized at 1600°C: a reversible capacity of around 300 mAh.g-1 stable over 200 cycles is obtained at 37.2 mA.g-1 with an initial coulombic efficiency of 84%. To deeper understand sodium insertion mechanisms in hard carbon structures impedance spectroscopy, SAXS and EDX were carried out on hard carbon electrodes cycled at different voltages.The layered oxide Na0.6Ni0.25Mn0.75O2 was investigated as the positive electrode. It was observed that with increasing calcination temperature the number of P3-type stacking faults decreases in favor of a more crystalline P2 phase. Then, the carbonate-based electrolyte has been optimized to guarantee the reproducibility of the electrochemical tests performed in a layered oxide//sodium metal configuration. A first oxidation capacity of around 130 mAh.g-1 is reached. However this value drops quickly after 40 cycles. Operando XRD analysis did partially explain the capacity decrease. Finally, the results of these investigations were used to design an optimized full cell which demonstrated promising performance during initial testing.

Le besoin accru de stockage d'énergie via Li- et batteries Na-ion nécessite une recherche continue de nouveaux matériaux de cathode ayant une densité énergétique plus élevée et étant sûr et durable. Ainsi, nous avons exploré des composés à base de borate capables de réagir avec Li/ Na-ions de manière réversible, soit par le biais de réactions topotactic- ou de conversion. Nous nous sommes concentrés sur les candidats avec des anions polyborate, qui devraient montrer des potentiels redox élevés par rapport aux matériaux à base BO3. Li6CuB4O10 utilisant comme composé modèle, nous avons montré la possibilité d'obtenir des potentiels d'oxydo-réduction de 4.2 et 3.9 V par rapport à Li pour l'α- et ß polymorphes. L'activité redox a été rationalisée par spectroscopie EPR et calculs DFT. Nous révélons en outre la relation structurelle / synthétique entre les deux polymorphes et montrons une conductivité ionique élevée de 1.4 mS / cm à 500 °C pour une forme de HT d'-Li6CuB4O10. De plus, nous avons pu préparer deux pentaborates 3d-métal nouveau sodium Na3MB5O10 (M = Fe, Co). M = Fe, nous avons observé une intercalation Na réversible à un potentiel moyen de 2.5 V par rapport à Na, alors Na3CoB5O10 avéré être inactif électrochimique. Dévier à partir de composés d'insertion / désinsertion classiques, nous avons étudié la électrochimique entraîné la réaction d'un oxyborate bismuth Bi4B2O9 contre Li par des mesures électrochimiques combinées avec XRD et TEM. Nous avons constaté qu'il est possible de faire défiler ce matériau réversible entre 1.7 et 3.5 V avec un potentiel redox d'environ 2.3 V par rapport à Li avec seulement 5% en poids de carbone et une faible polarisation ~ 300 mV. / The increased need of energy storage via Li- and Na-ion batteries requires a continuous search for new cathode materials having higher energy density and being safe and sustainable. Thus, we explored borate based compounds capable of reacting with Li/ Na-ions in a reversible way either through topotactic- or conversion reactions. We focused on candidates with polyborate anions, that are expected to show elevated redox potentials compared to BO3 based materials. Using Li6CuB4O10 as a model compound we showed the possibility to achieve redox potentials of 4.2 and 3.9 V vs Li for the α- and β-polymorphs. The redox activity was rationalized through EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. We further reveal the structural/ synthetic relation between the two polymorphs and show a high ionic conductivity of 1.4 mS/cm at 500°C for a HT form of α-Li6CuB4O10. Moreover we were able to prepare two new sodium 3d-metal pentaborates Na3MB5O10 (M = Fe, Co). For M = Fe we observed a reversible Na intercalation at an average potential of 2.5 V vs Na, whereas Na3CoB5O10 turned out to be electrochemical inactive. Deviating from classical insertion/ deinsertion compounds, we studied the electrochemical driven reaction of a bismuth oxyborate Bi4B2O9 versus Li through electrochemical measurements combined with XRD and TEM. We found that it is possible to reversible cycle this material between 1.7 and 3.5 V with an redox potential of ~2.3 V vs Li with only 5wt% carbon and a small polarization ~300 mV. Owing to the complexity of 3d-metal borate chemistry encountered through this PhD, the chances of having a borate based positive electrode for next generation Li-ion batteries is rather slim.

Dans les années à venir, la production d’Energie devra passer par l’utilisation de moyens plus respectueux de l’environnement tels que les énergies renouvelables. Leur caractère intermittent nécessite cependant la mise en place d’un stockage à grande échelle. Parmi les différentes technologies à disposition, les batteries Na-ion apparaissent comme une solution de choix grâce aux ressources de sodium illimitées. Dans ce contexte, nous nous sommes donc intéressés à la synthèse et la caractérisation de nouveaux matériaux d’électrodes positives pour batteries Na-ion. Les oxydes de métaux de transition et plus particulièrement le système Na-Mn-O a attiré notre attention pour les avantages que procure le manganèse en termes de non toxicité, de faible coût et d’abondance. Les phases Na4Mn2O5, lacunaire en oxygène, et Na2Mn3O7, lacunaire en cation manganèse, montrent des capacités spécifiques intéressantes par l’action de différents phénomènes redox. Na2Mn3O7 peut notamment être réduite, pour former la phase Na4Mn3O7 et oxydée, par l’action de l’activité redox de l’oxygène, donnant des capacités de 160 et 120 mAh/g, respectivement. Dans le but d’élargir l’étude à un métal de transition pouvant être oxydé à un état de valence +V, la phase isoformulaire Na2V3O7 a également été étudiée et un Na+ peut être réversiblement extrait de cette dernière. / N the coming years, the production of Energy will have to go through the use of more environmentally friendly means such as renewable energies. However, their intermittent nature requires the establishment of a large-scale storage. Among the various technologies available, Na-ion batteries appear as a solution of choice thanks to unlimited sodium resources. In this context, we are interested in the synthesis and characterization of new positive electrode materials for Na-ion batteries. The transition metal oxides, and more particularly the Na-Mn-O system, have drawn our attention to the benefits of manganese in terms of non-toxicity, low cost and abundance. The phase Na4Mn2O5 (with oxygen vacancies) and Na2Mn3O7 (with manganese vacancies) show interesting specific capacities by the action of various redox phenomena. Na2Mn3O7 may be reduced, to form the phase Na4Mn3O7 and oxidized, by the action of the oxygen redox activity, giving capacities of 160 and 120 mAh/g, respectively. In order to extend the study to a transition metal that can be oxidized to a +V valence state, Na2V3O7 has also been studied and one Na+ can be reversibly extracted from it.

Ce travail consiste en l’étude par RMN multinoyaux de matériauxparamagnétiques d’électrodes positives pour batteries Li ou Na-ion. La RMN du solidepermet une caractérisation de l’environnement local du noyau sondé grâce à l’exploitationdes interactions hyperfines dues à la présence d’une certaine densité d’électrons célibataires(déplacement de contact de Fermi) sur ce noyau (densité transférée selon des mécanismesplus ou moins complexes). Les matériaux étudiés sont des fluoro ou oxy phosphates devanadium de formules générales AVPO4X (A= Li ou Na; X = F, OH, ou OF) (structure typeTavorite), et Na3V2(PO4)2F1-xOx. Tous ces matériaux ont été caractérisés par RMN du 7Li ou23Na, 31P et 19F combiné à des calculs DFT, afin de mieux comprendre les structure etstructure électroniques locales. Notamment, ces études nous ont permis de mettre enévidence la présence de défauts dans certains matériaux et donc de discuter leur impact surles propriétés électrochimiques. L’utilisation de la méthode PAW nous a permis de modéliserdes défauts dilués dans des supermaille. Ensuite, l’impact de ces défauts sur la structurelocale a été étudié afin d’envisager les mécanismes de transfert de spin possibles etreproduire leur déplacements de RMN. / Paramagnetic materials for positive electrodes for Li or Na-ion batteries havebeen studied by multinuclear NMR. The local environment of the probed nucleus can becharacterized by solid state NMR making use of hyperfine interactions due to transfer ofsome electron spin density (Fermi contact shift) on this nucleus, via more or less complexmechanisms. The materials studied are vanadium fluoro or oxy phosphates of generalformulas AVPO4X (A= Li or Na; X = F, OH, or OF) belonging to the Tavorite family and theNa3V2(PO4)2F1-xOx . All these materials have been characterized by 7Li or 23Na, 31P and 19F,combined with DFT calculations to better understand local electronic structures andstructures. In particular, these studies have enabled us to highlight the presence of defects incertain materials and to discuss their impact on the electrochemical properties. The use ofthe PAW method allowed us to model diluted defects in large supercells, to calculate theFermi contact shifts of the surrounding nuclei and to study the mechanisms of electron spintransfer. This allowed us to better understand the nature of defects in materials.For some systems, the mechanisms related to the intercalation or deintercalation of Li+ orNa+ ions have also been studied by NMR.

This thesis deals with ionic liquids and use of ionic liquids as electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries. Thesis describes basic characteristics of secondary electrochemical cells and characteristics of ionic liquids. Thesis also describes modifications and measurement of ionic liquids. Thesis also presents the results of measurement conductivity and potential window of modified ionic liquids.

The thesis deals with liquid aprotic electrolytes based on mixtures of ionic liquid and solvent. EmimBF4, namely 1-ethyl-3-ethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, was used as the starting ionic liquid. A mixture of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate was used as solvents. Electrolytes were enriched with two electrolyte salts LiBF4 and NaBF4 from the resulting mixtures selected the most suitable electrolytes for Li-ion and Na-ion accumulators. Electrolytes were selected taking into account the required properties: the width of the potential window, the measured electrical conductivity and, last but not least, the safety.

An alternate family of “high” voltage (where the equilibrium voltage lies between 3.6 V and 4.2 V) polyanion cathode materials is reported in this thesis with the objective of improving specific energy density (Wh/kg) and developing a better understanding of polyanion electrochemistry. The electrochemical properties, synthesis and the structure of novel fluorosulfate materials crystallizing in the tavorite and the triplite type mineral structures are described. These materials display highest discharge voltages reported for any Fe2+/Fe3+ redox couple. LiFeSO4F was prepared in both the tavorite and the triplite polymorphs using inexpensive and scalable methods. Complete structural characterization was performed using X-ray and neutron based diffraction methods. A rapid synthesis of fluorosulfates can be achieved by using microwave heating. The local rapid heating created by the microwaves generates nanocrystalline LiFeSO4F tavorite with defects that induce significant microstrain. To date, this is unique to the microwave synthesis method. Phase transformation to the more stable triplite framework, facilitated by the lattice defects which include hydroxyl groups, is therefore easily triggered. The formation of nanocrystalline tavorite leads to nanocrystalline triplite, which greatly favors its electrochemical performance because of the inherently disordered nature of the triplite structure. Direct synthesis of the electrochemically active triplite type compound can be carried out either by extending the duration of the solvothermal reactions or by the partial substitution of Fe by Mn to produce LiFe1-xMnxSO4F. This study, overall, has led to a better understanding of the transformation of tavorite to the triplite phase. To examine Li and the Na ion conduction and their correlation with the electrochemical performance of 3-D, 2-D and 1-D ion conductors, atomistic scale simulations have been used to investigate tavorite type LiFeSO4F, NaFeSO4F, olivine type NaMPO4 (M= Fe, Mn, Fe0.5Mn0.5) and layered Na2FePO4F. These calculations predict high mobility of the Li-ion in the tavorite type LiFeSO4F but sluggish Na-ion transport in iso-structural NaFeSO4F. High mobility of the Na-ion is predicted for phosphate layered and olivine structures. Finally, the synthesis and structural details of NaMSO4F (M=Fe, Mn) and NH4MSO4F (M=Fe, Mn) are presented in the last chapter to show the structural diversity present in the fluorosulfate family.