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Project 2– NMR studies of activation energy distributions in solid ion conductors

PI: Prof. Michael Vogel, Darmstadt

Summary

Ion transport in solid materials is of great importance to enable and refine modern applications. For example, it is a key factor to improve existing battery technologies and, hence, to overcome current limitations relating to the storage and conversion of energy. To tailor the ion transport to the requirements for specific functions, a fundamental understanding of the structure-dynamics relations in solid electrolytes is crucial. Energy landscapes are a fruitful concept in this context. This project uses the capabilities of nuclear magnetic resonance to establish links between ion dynamics and energy landscapes of solid electrolytes. In particular, a variety of experimental techniques, including field-cycling relaxometry, stimulated-echo experiments, and field-gradient diffusometry, are combined to ascertain lithium ion dynamics and energetics on various time and length scales. This analysis involves both amorphous and crystalline electrolytes allowing us to realize largely different degrees of order. The results, e.g., correlation time and activation energy distributions, are compared with findings of manifold experimental and theoretical approaches to the dynamics and structure of these materials obtained in other projects of a collaborative research effort. In this way, we determine how macroscopic ion transport evolves from elementary ion jumps in various types of energy landscapes. This information paves the way for knowledge-based manipulation of application-relevant material properties.