Nanoionics: ion transport and electrochemical storage in confined systems

Abstract

The past two decades have shown that the exploration of properties on the nanoscale can lead to substantially new insights regarding fundamental issues, but also to novel technological perspectives. Simultaneously it became so fashionable to decorate activities with the prefix 'nano' that it has become devalued through overuse. Regardless of fashion and prejudice, this article shows that the crystallizing field of 'nanoionics' bears the conceptual and technological potential that justifies comparison with the well-acknowledged area of nanoelectronics. Demonstrating this potential implies both emphasizing the indispensability of electrochemical devices that rely on ion transport and complement the world of electronics, and working out the drastic impact of interfaces and size effects on mass transfer, transport and storage. The benefits for technology are expected to lie essentially in the field of room-temperature devices, and in particular in artificial self-sustaining structures to which both nanoelectronics and nanoionics might contribute synergistically.

Strain Control of Oxygen Vacancies in Epitaxial Strontium Cobaltite Films

“…It is worth stressing that by applying only a 2% tensile strain, one can reduce the activation energy barrier by ~30%. Such declines immediately suggest benefits towards ionic conduction for SOFCs and oxygen sensor applications [2][3][4] . Concurrent with the strain-induced changes in E a , as shown in Fig.…”

“…[1][2][3] For instance, incremental changes in oxygen vacancies can leverage large shifts in magnetic, electronic, and catalytic properties in TMOs without introducing possible impurities and segregation associated with heterovalent cation doping. [4][5][6][7] Moreover, the functional manipulation of oxygen vacancies is critical for several key information, energy, and environmental technologies, including high T c superconductors, colossal magnetoresistive materials, oxygen membranes, energy storage, memristors, and other electrochemical devices.…”

Nanostructuring of β-MnO2: The Important Role of Surface to Bulk Ion Migration

“…The importance of surfaces and interfaces to both ionic and electronic conductivity in nanoionic materials has been highlighted. 53 The influence of Li ion migration at surfaces on electrode kinetics may be explored using theoretical means. However, while surface energies and morphologies of cathode materials have previously been studied, 54−56 explicit work on Li ion migration barriers at surfaces is lacking.…”

Phases Hybriding and Hierarchical Structuring of Mesoporous TiO2 Nanowire Bundles for High‐Rate and High‐Capacity Lithium Batteries

“…However, many potential electrode materials of LIBs are limited by slow Li‐ion diffusion, poor electron transport in electrodes, and increased resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface at high discharge–charge rates 1, 6. Various research has investigated nanostructures (e.g., nanoscale size, nanoporous, or hierarchically nano/macrostructure) to improve the electrochemical performances by providing good access of electrolyte to the electrode surface, shortening the Li + insertion/extraction pathway, and facilitating charge across the electrode/electrolyte interface, resulting in excellent capacity, long cycle life, and good rate performance 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13…”