Pós nanocristalinos de zircônia estabilizada com ítria ou escândia (YSZ ou ScSZ) entre 8 e 12 mol% foram sintetizados por meio dos métodos da poliacrilamida, dos precursores poliméricos e da precipitação simultânea de cátions. Os pós de partida foram analisados por difração de raios X (DRX), distribuição de tamanho de partículas por espalhamento laser, adsorção gasosa (BET), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET), análise térmica simultânea, fluorescência de raios X (FRX), e espectroscopia de absorção óptica no infravermelho por refletância difusa (DRIFT). Os métodos de síntese por via úmida orgânica produziram pós nanocristalinos a partir de 550 °C, enquanto que o método da precipitação simultânea de cátions produziu pós amorfos que cristalizaram em torno de 450 °C com entalpias de cristalização -13,7 ± 0,6 kJ.mol-1 para 8YSZ e -11,7 ± 0,5 kJ.mol-1 para 12YSZ. Os valores de área de superfície específica obtidos para os pós sintetizados por meio dos métodos da poliacrilamida, dos precursores poliméricos e da precipitação (calcinados em ~ 650 °C) foram 27, 61 e 110 m2.g-1, respectivamente. Os pós obtidos pelo método da poliacrilamida apresentaram menor estado de aglomeração e maior quantidade de carbonato superficial relativamente ao pó obtido pelo método dos precursores poliméricos. A sinterização dos compactos de pós cerâmicos foi avaliada por meio da técnica de espectroscopia de impedância (EI) e dilatometria. Após sinterização, as cerâmicas foram analisadas por DRX, MEV e EI. Os resultados evidenciaram que os pós apresentaram elevada sinterabilidade, mas baixa densidade final por causa do estado de aglomeração dos pós. A adsorção de água à temperatura ambiente foi medida em um microcalorímetro Setaram Calvet e um sistema de dosagem Micromeritics. Foram feitos experimentos de calorimetria de solução por inserção de amostra em um calorímetro duplo tipo Calvet usando 3Na2O.4MoO3 como solvente. Estes experimentos, combinados com os de calorimetria de adsorção de água, permitiram determinar por meio de um ciclo termodinâmico, as entalpias de superfície para superfícies hidratadas e anidras. / Nanocrystalline yttria or scandia stabilized zirconia (YSZ, ScSZ) powders with fluorite-type structure were synthesized by the polyacrylamide, the polymeric precursor and the precipitation methods. Powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), simultaneous (TG and DTA or DSC) thermal analysis, nitrogen adsorption analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform absorption spectroscopy (DRIFT). The organic precursor methods produced nanocrystalline powders at approximately 550 °C and the precipitation method produced amorphous powders which crystallized at approximately 450 °C into a fluorite phase with crystallization enthalpies of -13.7 ± 0.6 kJ.mol-1 for 8YSZ and -11.7 ± 0.5 kJ.mol-1 for 12YSZ. The measured surface area of powders after calcination at 650 - 800 °C were 27 m2.g-1, 61 m2.g-1 and 110 m2.g-1 for the polyacrylamide, the polymeric precursor and the precipitation methods, respectively. The sintering process of the pressed ceramic powders was evaluated by direct impedance spectroscopy (IS) measurements and by dilatometry. Thereafter, the sintered pellets were analyzed by XRD, SEM and IS. The sintering studies show that the powders prepared by the chemical route have high sinterability; however, they do not sinter to high density as a result of dense aggregates in the initial powders. The heats of water adsorption at room temperature were measured on samples using a Setaram Calvet microcalorimeter and a Micromeritics gas dosing system. Drop solution calorimetry experiments were performed in a custom made Calvet twin calorimeter using sodium molybdate 3Na2O.4MoO3 solvent. These experiments, combined with water adsorption calorimetry, allowed for deriving, through a thermodynamic cycle, the surface enthalpies for hydrous and anhydrous surfaces.

No description available.

Cotutelle entre l'Université de Montréal et l'Université catholique de Louvain / Les batteries aux ions lithium (BIL) sont considérées comme la technologie la plus prometteuse en matière de stockage d’énergie. Elles possèdent les plus hautes densités d’énergie connues, permettant la miniaturisation constante des appareils électroniques commercialisés. La recherche dans le domaine des BIL s’est plus récemment tournée vers leur implémentation dans les véhicules électriques, qui nécessitera de plus hautes densités d’énergie et de puissance . Une manière concrète d’augmenter la densité d’énergie d’une BIL est d’en augmenter le voltage de cellule. Pour se faire, la nouvelle génération de batteries sera composée de matériaux d’électrode positive à haut potentiel (tel que LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 avec un potentiel de 4.7 V vs. Li+ /Li) et de lithium métallique en électrode négative. Néanmoins, l’introduction de ces matériaux d’électrode positive à haut potentiel est limitée par la stabilité électrochimique de l’électrolyte liquide conventionnel, composé d’un sel de lithium et de solvants organiques (typiquement LiPF6 + EC/DEC), qui s’oxyde autour de 4.2 V vs. Li+/Li , . L’utilisation du lithium métallique comme électrode négative est entravée par la nature liquide de l’électrolyte conventionnel, qui n’offre pas assez de résistance mécanique pour empêcher la formation de dendrites de lithium, causant à terme le court-circuit de la batterie. De tels courts-circuits présentent un risque d’incendie car les électrolytes liquides sont composés de solvants organiques inflammables à basse température, posant un sérieux problème de sécurité. Les électrolytes solides, de type céramique ou polymères, sont développés en alternative aux électrolytes liquides. Ils ne contiennent aucun solvant inflammable et sont stables à haute température. Ils constituent l’élément clé d’une nouvelle génération de batteries au lithium dite batteries au lithium tout-solide. Ces dernières sont développées pour répondre à des attentes élevées en termes de sécurité, de stabilité et de haute densité d’énergie. Les électrolytes solides doivent satisfaire un certain nombre d'exigences avant de pouvoir être commercialisés, notamment posséder une conductivité ionique élevée, une large fenêtre de stabilité électrochimique et une conductivité électronique négligeable. Ces propriétés constituent les critères les plus importants à prendre en compte pour la sélection de matériaux d’électrolytes solides. Cependant, on remarque dans la littérature que la majorité des études se concentre sur la conductivité ionique des électrolytes solides, reléguant au second plan l’exploration de leurs stabilité électrochimique et conductivité électronique. La fenêtre de stabilité électrochimique a longtemps été annoncée comme étant très large chez les électrolytes solides céramiques (au moins de 0 à 5 V vs. Li+/Li). Néanmoins, des études plus récentes tendent à démontrer que la valeur de cette fenêtre dépend grandement de la méthode électrochimique utilisée pour la mesurer, et qu’elle est de surcroit souvent surestimée. Dans ce contexte, le premier objectif de cette thèse a été de développer une méthode pertinente pour déterminer la fenêtre de stabilité des électrolytes solides avec précision. Cette méthode a été optimisée et validée sur des électrolytes solides céramiques phare comme Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3, Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 et Li7La3Zr2O12. Quant à la conductivité électronique, elle est rarement étudiée dans les électrolytes solides, qui sont considérés comme isolants électroniques compte tenu de leur large bande interdite. Cela dit, de récentes études à ce sujet prouvent que malgré leur bande interdite, les électrolytes solides peuvent générer de la conductivité électronique par le biais de défauts, et que celle-ci, même faible, peut éventuellement mettre l’électrolyte en échec. Pour cette raison, le second objectif de ce projet de thèse a été d’explorer la formation de défauts dans les électrolytes solides afin de déterminer leur effet sur la génération de conductivité électronique. Pour avoir une vision d’ensemble, les premiers-principes ont été utilisés pour étudier six électrolytes solides largement utilisés notamment LiGe2(PO4)3, LiTi2(PO4)3, Li7La3Zr2O12, et Li3PS4. / Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are considered the most promising energy storage technology. LIBs electrode materials have the highest known energy densities, allowing the constant miniaturization of commercial electronic devices. Research in the field of LIBs has more recently turned to their implementation in electric vehicles, which will require higher energy and power densities . A concrete way to increase the energy density of LIBs is to increase the cell voltage. To do so, the new generation of batteries will be composed of high potential positive electrode materials (such as LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 with a potential of 4.7 V vs. Li+/Li) and metallic lithium in the negative electrode. Nevertheless, the introduction of these high potential positive electrode materials is limited by the electrochemical stability of conventional liquid electrolytes, composed of a lithium salt and organic solvents (LiPF6 + EC/DEC), which gets oxidized around 4.2 V vs. Li+/Li , . The use of metallic lithium as the negative electrode is also hindered by the liquid nature of the conventional electrolyte, which does not offer enough mechanical resistance to prevent the formation of lithium dendrites, ultimately causing a short-circuit of the battery. Such short-circuits are likely to lead to thermal runaway because liquid electrolytes are composed of organic solvents that are flammable at low temperature, posing a serious safety issue. Solid electrolytes, based on ceramics or polymers, are developed as an alternative to liquid electrolytes. They contain no flammable solvents and are stable at high temperatures. They are the key element of a new generation of lithium batteries called all-solid-state lithium batteries. These are developed to meet high expectations in terms of safety, stability and high energy density. Solid electrolytes must satisfy a number of requirements before they can be commercialized, including possessing a high ionic conductivity, a wide electrochemical stability window and negligible electronic conductivity. These properties are the most important criteria to consider when selecting solid electrolyte materials. However, the majority of studies found in the literature focuses on the ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes, overshadowing the exploration of their electrochemical stability and electronic conductivity. The electrochemical stability window has long been reported to be very wide in ceramic solid electrolytes (at least from 0 to 5 V vs. Li+/Li). Nevertheless, more recent studies tend to show that the value of this window depends greatly on the electrochemical method used to measure it, and that it is often overestimated. In this context, the first objective of this thesis was to develop a relevant method to determine the stability window of solid electrolytes with precision. This method was optimized and validated on flagship ceramic solid electrolytes such as Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3, Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 and Li7La3Zr2O12. As for the electronic conductivity, it is scarcely studied in solid electrolytes, which are considered as electronic insulators given their wide band gaps. That being said, more recent studies on this subject proved that despite their band gap, solid electrolytes can generate electronic conductivity through defects, and that electronic conductivity, even if it is weak, can eventually cause the failure of the electrolyte. For this reason, the second objective of this thesis project was to explore the formation of defects in solid electrolytes in order to determine their effect on the generation of electronic conductivity. To get a better overview, first-principles were used to investigate six widely used ceramic solid electrolytes, including LiGe2(PO4)3, LiTi2(PO4)3, Li7La3Zr2O12, and Li3PS4.

<p>The Materials Genome Initiative (MGI) has established guidelines to accelerate the discovery, development, and implementation of advanced materials in order to address current and future challenges. A key area of interest is the pressing need for more efficient energy storage systems to support technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energies. In this work, we present an Integrated Computational Materials Engineering approach for the development of novel solid-state electrolyte materials. In particular, we embark on a quest to unravel the potential of ceramic garnet lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) for next-generation battery technologies.</p> <p>Our exploration begins with an overview of the current state of the Materials Innovation Infrastructure (MII) and our rationale behind choosing LLZO. Through the use of machine learning techniques and molecular dynamics simulations, we aim for efficient material optimization. Our findings are reinforced through experiments by using these materials as inorganic fillers in composite polymer electrolytes. Our findings demonstrate that the combined use of these complementary techniques facilitates the discovery of potential alternative solid-state electrolytes. Finally, we propose future research directions in materials science for the design of advanced materials using these integrated approaches. </p>

Yttria stabilized Zirconia (8YSZ) is an extensively used solid electrolyte, which finds applications in electrochemical sensors, solid oxide fuel cells and gate oxide in MOSFETs. Recent studies report that YSZ thin films are better performers than their bulk counterparts, in terms of ionic conductivity even at moderate temperatures. YSZ thin films also attract attention with the scope of device miniaturization. However, most of the studies available in the literature on YSZ thin films focus mainly on their electrical characterization. In this work, YSZ thin films were deposited, characterized and possible use of sensors were evaluated. In the present work, 8 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia thin films were deposited using RF magnetron reactive sputtering under different deposition conditions. Films with thicknesses ranging from few tens to few hundreds of nanometres were deposited. The deposited films were subjected to morphological, structural, compositional and electrical characterizations. Deposition and annealing conditions were optimized to obtain dense, stoichiometric and crystalline YSZ thin films. The ionic conductivity of 200 nm nanocrystal line thin film was found to be two orders of magnitude higher than the bulk. The ionic conductivity increased with the decrease in film thickness. Compositional analyses of a set of YSZ thin films revealed free surface yttrium segregation. The free surface segregation of dopants can locally alter the surface chemistry and influence the oxygen transfer kinetics across the electrode-electrolyte interface. Although number of reports are available on the segregation characteristics in YSZ bulk, no reports are available on yttria segregation in YSZ thin film. Hence, this work reports detailed investigations on the free surface yttria segregation in YSZ thin films using angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Influence of annealing temperature, film thickness, annealing time, and purity on the segregation concentration was determined. It was found that the most important factor that determines the segregation was found to be the target purity. The segregation depth profile analysis showed that the segregation layer depth was proportional to segregation concentration. Free surface segregation reduced the ionic conductivity of the YSZ thin films roughly about a factor. However, segregation did not affect the film’s morphology, grain size, crystallinity and activation energy. The difference in ionic conductivity observed in the segregated and clean YSZ films suggests that dopant free surface segregation could also be one of the reasons for the variable ionic conductivity reported in the literature. For using YSZ in miniaturized devices, micro-structuring of YSZ is important. It has been reported that the wet etching techniques available for YSZ were not repeatable and do not etch annealed YSZ samples. Reactive ion etching (RIE) is better suited for YSZ patterning due to its capability to offer high resolution, easy control and tenable anisotropic/isotropic pattern transfer for batch processing. Although reports are available on the dry etching of zirconia and yttria thin films, no studies were reported on the dry etching of YSZ thin films. In this work, inductively coupled reactive ion etching (ICP-RIE) using fluorine and chlorine chemistries were employed to etch YSZ thin films. Optimized etching conditions were identified by varying different process parameters like, type of gas, gas flow rate, RF power, ICP power, chamber pressure and carrier wafer in the ICP-RIE process. Optimized conditions were chosen by examining the etch depth, composition analyses before and after etch using XPS, selectivity towards SiO2 (which is the most common buffer layer) and surface roughness. Etch chemistries involved in a particular plasma (SF6, Cl2 and BCl3) were discussed with the help of surface composition and etch thicknesses. The results showed that etching YSZ with BCl3 plasma at optimized conditions yielded best results through oxygen-scavenging mechanism. A maximum etch rate of 53 nm/min was obtained in BCl3 plasma using PECVD Si3N4 carrier wafer at an ICP power of 1500 W, RF power of 100 W, chamber pressure of 5 mTorr with 30 sccm BCl3 flow. Sensing devices were designed by employing YSZ thin film as solid electrolyte and nickel oxide and gold thin film as sensing and reference electrodes, respectively to evaluate the possible use of YSZ thin film in miniaturized NO2 sensor. The electrodes were deposited in inter-digitated pattern. Two types of electrodes were designed with different number of fingers in symmetric and asymmetric configurations. The NO2 sensing was performed in the concentration range of 25 to 2000 ppm at three different temperatures, 673, 773 and 873 K in mixed potential and impedance metric modes. The mixed potential type measurements were carried out only for asymmetric cell in two different electrode configurations. The impedance metric type measurements were carried out for both symmetric and asymmetric cells in two different electrode configurations. Preliminary NO2 sensing experiments in both the types of measurements revealed that in devices with electrodes having more fingers were better in performance. In mixed potential type sensors, sensitivity was measured as the amount of voltage generated when the sensor was exposed to a test gas. The generated voltage was found to be proportional to the logarithm of NO2 concentration in the entire measurement range (50 to 2000 ppm) with the regression fitting parameter, adj.R2 around 0.97 to 0.99 in all the cases. A maximum potential of 271 mV was measured with 2000 ppm NO2 at 873 K. The response and recovery times of the sensors were sensitive to the operating temperature. In impedance metric mode, the sensitivities were measured as the variation in the low frequency phase angle (∆ φ) when the gas concentration is changed. The frequency range of the measurement was from 0.01 Hz to100 kHz. The response time in the impedance metric sensors was comparable to that of mixed potential sensors. But the recovery time in impedance metric sensors was much was slower than the mixed potential type for all the concentrations. The sensors showed linear response only in a narrow range of 50 to 500 ppm with regression fitting value, R2 around 0.98 in all the cases. Above 500 ppm, the sensitivity value was observed to be saturated. From the gas sensing studies performed on the miniaturized sensors, it was found that the mixed potential type sensing mode is better than the impedance metric type in YSZ thin film based devices. However detailed interference gas studies were needed before drawing any conclusion. In summary, the studies presented in the work have contributed to the understanding of free surface yttria segregation behaviour in YSZ thin films. Micromachining conditions were optimized for both pristine and annealed YSZ thin films. Suitability of YSZ thin film based miniaturized NO2 gas sensor was evaluated.