Cornell researchers have developed a porous crystal able to absorbing lithium-ion electrolytes and transporting them by means of one-dimensional nanochannels. This was achieved by combining two contorted molecular constructions, as detailed in a examine revealed within the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The design has the potential to enhance the protection of solid-state lithium-ion batteries.
The lead creator of the examine is Yuzhe Wang ’24, with the undertaking led by Yu Zhong, an assistant professor of supplies science and engineering at Cornell Engineering. Zhong’s lab focuses on creating gentle and nanoscale supplies to reinforce sustainability and vitality storage applied sciences. Wang, a junior switch scholar, approached Zhong about conducting a analysis undertaking, they usually launched into creating safer lithium-ion batteries.
In typical lithium-ion batteries, liquid electrolytes could cause the formation of dendrites—spiky constructions which will quick out the battery and even result in explosions. Stable-state batteries are safer however face challenges attributable to increased resistance, slowing down ion motion by means of solids.
Zhong aimed to deal with these points by making a crystal with nanochannels massive sufficient for easy ion transport. Wang developed a method combining two complementary molecular constructions—molecular cages and macrocycles—to create this porous crystal.
Macrocycles are molecules with rings of 12 or extra atoms; molecular cages are compounds with a number of rings. Their mixture affords a pathway that reduces interactions between lithium ions and the crystal, offering easy transport for the ions and excessive ion focus.
Wang’s work was supported by the school’s Engineering Studying Initiatives.
Each macrocycles and molecular cages have intrinsic pores the place ions can sit and move by means of. Through the use of them because the constructing blocks for porous crystals, the crystal would have massive areas to retailer ions and interconnected channels for ions to move.
Yuzhe Wang, PhD Pupil, Massachusetts Institute of Expertise
Wang designed the construction by attaching three macrocycles radially, resembling wings or arms, to a molecular cage on the middle. These elements then fused collectively, forming bigger, extra complicated, three-dimensional crystals. In accordance with Zhong, these crystals are nanoporous, creating one-dimensional channels that present “the perfect pathway for ion transport.”
The macrocycle-cage molecules self-assemble, utilizing hydrogen bonds and their interlocking shapes to realize spectacular ionic conductivity, reaching as much as 8.3 × 10-4 Siemens per centimeter.
That conductivity is the report excessive for these molecule-based, solid-state lithium-ion-conducting electrolytes.
Yu Zhong, Research Senior Writer and Assistant Professor, Supplies Science and Engineering, Cornell College
To raised perceive the composition of their crystal, the researchers labored with Judy Cha, Ph.D. ’09, a professor of supplies science and engineering, who examined its construction utilizing scanning transmission electron microscopy, and Jingjie Yeo, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, whose simulations made clear how the molecules interacted with the lithium ions.
Zhong added, “So with all of the items collectively, we ultimately established a great understanding of why this construction is actually good for ion transport, and why we get such a excessive conductivity with this materials.”
The fabric can be utilized to create combined ion-electron-conducting constructions for bioelectronic circuits and sensors, in addition to to separate ions and molecules in water purification and create safer lithium-ion batteries.
“This macrocycle-cage molecule is unquestionably one thing new on this group. The molecular cage and macrocycle have been recognized for some time, however how one can actually leverage the distinctive geometry of those two molecules to information the self-assembly of recent, extra sophisticated constructions is sort of an unexplored space. Now, in our group, we’re engaged on the synthesis of various molecules and the way we will assemble them and make a molecule with a distinct geometry so we will broaden all the chances to make new nanoporous supplies. Possibly it’s for lithium-ion conductivity or possibly for even many different totally different functions,” Zhong said.
Doctoral scholar Kaiyang Wang, M.S. ’19; grasp’s scholar Ashutosh Garudapalli; postdoctoral researchers Stephen Funni and Qiyi Fang; and researchers from Rice College, College of Chicago, and Columbia College are the opposite examine authors.
Cornell Engineering’s Engineering Studying Initiatives supported the examine.
The researchers used the Cornell Heart for Supplies Analysis and the Columbia College Supplies Analysis Science and Engineering Heart, each of that are supported by the Nationwide Science Basis’s Supplies Analysis Science and Engineering Heart program.
Journal Reference:
Wang, Y. et al. (2024) Supramolecular Meeting of Fused Macrocycle-Cage Molecules for Quick Lithium-Ion Transport. Journal of the American Chemical Society. doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c08558
