Executive Summary : | Energy storage is a significant research interest globally, with Li-ion batteries gaining popularity in applications like electric vehicles. India, a developing country, should invest in battery research and development to address the challenges of conventional materials. MXene, a family of materials with excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties, is a promising alternative. However, computational predictions suggest that only moderate capacities can be achieved with tuning the inter-layer spacing. The surface termination of MXene also influences the practical capacity delivered.
The proposal aims to address these concerns by investigating the fundamental aspects of MXene materials and improving their energy storage capability from an application perspective. This involves developing innovative processes to improve the specific capacity of MXene-based materials. These processes include controlling surface terminations, preparing MXene-alloy composites, and preparing MXene-polymer composites. Fundamental studies on kinetics and phase transitions will help engineer materials for high rate capability, providing temperature-dependent performance data important for tropical countries like India. Full-cells will be fabricated by combining selected cathode materials with MXene to demonstrate the feasibility of the technology. This work will utilize fundamental investigations to improve the performance of MXene-based 2D materials, leading to the demonstration of an innovative battery technology. |