TeraHertz Mapping and Optical-Boost of Ion transport in Lithium Solid-state Electrolytes and electrodes

Lithium-ion batteries will play a central role in societies move towards low-carbon electric transportation. A key step to realising this is the development of safe, high-rate capacity all-solid-state battery technologies, based on solid-state electrolytes (SSEs). While many SSEs have been developed, rationally developing stable, highly ionic conducting SSEs remains challenging due to the sub-picosecond timescales and nanometre length scales associated with the ion dynamics at their core.THz-MOBILiSE will bridge ultrafast optics, materials science and electrochemistry to elucidate and control the dynamics of solid-state ion conduction, specifically in battery-relevant SSEs. My goals include: (1) identifying the lattice vibrations responsible for ion hopping via field- and temperature-dependent THz measurements; (2) understanding the rate limiting steps and transition structures governing SSE ion transport; (3) and achieving control of ion motion through vibrational stimulation. My results will provide key (currently missing) parameters for the modelling of SSE materials (e.g., entropies of migration), understanding of the crystal structural motifs necessary for the engineering of highly ionic conducting battery materials, and diagnostic tools for understanding/controlling ion motion in a range of ionotronic technologies from bioelectronics and catalysis.THz-MOBILiSE will provide me with new expertise in ultrafast optics, while further strengthening my dissemination, translation and leadership skills. Altogether, this will equip me with the skills to establish my own research group at the interface of optics and electrochemistry to study materials for the energy transition.