20^th International Conference on Advanced Energy Materials and Research August 13-14, 2018 Dublin, Ireland

Leonid A Bendersky is a Research Scientist at Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He received his PhD degree in Materials Science from the Technion, Israel in 1982. From 1983 he has been with NIST working on a variety of advanced materials and technologies including rapid solidification, quasicrystals, structural intermetallics, functional oxides, hydrogen storage and Li-ion batteries. His research is focused on applying advanced transmission electron microscopy and crystallography to understand structural phase transitions and relation between properties and structures. He is the author of over 200 publications.

Besides being of technological interest, thin films of different battery components, especially active cathode materials, can be utilized for fundamental studies of the processes that govern the battery’s properties. Cathodes utilized in commercial lithium batteries are complex systems consisting of a polycrystalline active material in the form of a powder mixed with conductive carbon and a binding material. A simple system with no additives is desirable for use in the investigation of interfacial reactions, especially for local microstructural studies by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Such systems, when synthesized in the form of a thin film, especially as a single (or pseudo-single) crystal epitaxial film, can provide powerful insight into the processes occurring on a well-described two-dimensional interface, as well as the film interior. In our recent works we successfully utilized LiCoO2 epitaxial films to study details of structural changes during electrochemical cycling. In the work presented here the similar approach was extended to other important cathode systems, as well as for studying some solid electrolytes.

K Wierzbanowski has his expertise in the field of mechanical properties of metals, residual stresses and crystallographic textures. He developed crystalline models for elastoplastic deformation and for recrystallization of metallic materials. He performed also analysis and interpretations of experimental results in the domain of X-ray diffraction, electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) and mechanical testing. He gives academic lectures in the field of General Physics and Material Science. He is author of 180 publications and of numerous presentations in conferences dedicated to material science.

Asymmetric rolling process is a subject of many research works in the last years. In this kind of rolling some technological parameters can be modified, like: normal force and torque, sample shape (by bending) and power requirements. The material properties are also noticeably modified. An important shear deformation, characteristic for this process, leads to texture rotation, microstructure refinement and increase of material strength. Asymmetric rolling can be realized by a modification of existing rolling mills, therefore its industrial application is possible at a relatively low cost. The aim of the present study was to characterize this process and resulting material modifications of face centered cubic (fcc) and hexagonal close packed (hcp) metals: aluminum, copper and titanium. The cases of low and high deformations were examined. The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), X-ray diffraction (XRD), calorimetry and microhardness measurements were performed. Texture and mechanical characteristics were studied using a crystal deformation model and finite element method (FEM). The following material and process modifications were found as a result of asymmetric rolling: sample bending, which can be partly controlled; decrease of mill load and an increase of the average rolling torque; increase of microhardness mechanical strength; increase of energy released during recrystallization; texture rotation around transverse direction; decrease of the average grains size (persisting in some extent also after recrystallization) and formation of more fragmented grains and; modification of lattice misorientation distributions.

I S Moon is working as full Professor at Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea. He has over 18 years of experience on the electrochemically assisted removal of liquid and air pollutants at electro-scrubbing process and its design development sector. His credentials include a Master of Engineering (ME) in Chemical Engineering, and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Chemical Engineering. His expertise includes desalination using DCMD (direct contact membrane desalination) with modelling. Currently, he has colloborate work at Crandfield University, UK, for CO2 removal by electro-scrubbing process.

Statment of the Problem: The green solvent nature of the ionic liquids have potential application in many fields espacialy battery, sensor, electro-organic synthesis due to non-volatile and having wide electrochemical potential window. However, the generation of an electro-active species by paired-electrolysis is a difficult task. Inorder to harvest the high value of the ionic liquid, herein, water content effect was investigated to reduce the V(III)(acetylacetone)3 and its application as reductant. Initial water content analysis with a 1-butyl-3 methyl imidazolium trifluoromethane sulfonate [BMIM CF3SO3] ionic liquid revealed a minimum cell potential of 6 V at 18 M water. Methodology: A Nafion 324 membrane divided plate and frame electrolytic cell was adopted for the paired electrolysis experiments and the resutls obtined by a constant applied current method. Findings: Along with V(III)(acetylacetanone)3, other two compounds Ce(III)(SO4)2, and [Co(II)(CN)5]3-, were tested in the water contained ionic liquid medium. The potentiometric titration with H2O2 enabled reuse of the spent ionic liquid after mediator quantification. The electrolytic reduction of V(III)(acetylacetonate) metal complex in 18 M water-containing BMIM CF3SO3 under optimized conditions revealed 65% of V(II)(acetylacetonate) formation. The applicability was checked by using an organic compound dichloromethane, where found a well-defined change in the concentration of V(III)(acetylacetonate) from 18% to 6% upon the addition of 20 mM dichloromethane demonstrated the that dichloromethane reduction follows the mediated electrochemical reaction (MER). Conclusions & Signifigans: The developed system allows the use of galvanostatic mode to generate a electron active species in an ionic liquid medium.

Nuno Ferreira, is a PhD in Physics Engineering (2014), currently is a post-doc researcher at i3N, Physics Department and CICECO, Department of Materials and Ceramic Engineering at University of Aveiro, Portugal. He participated as a collaborator and research fellow in several R&D projects on material science. He is an experienced researcher in study and development of ceramics-based materials, prepared through conventional methods (melting, solid stated), with particular focus on laser processing (crystal growth – LFZ and surface sintering). Present sample characterization skills include various techniques such as, electrical conductivity and magnetic properties of various oxide materials. Current focus materials: thermoelectrics, ferroelectrics and glass matrices doped with transition metals and rare earth for energy storage and conversion applications. Main expertise is related to structural, magnetic and electrical properties of materials prepared by laser processing.

The evolution on ceramic industry is constant and significant improvements in automation and process efficiency are necessary. The treatment of small defects usually involves a new firing to repair small defects with only a few mm2, representing a significant increase in costs productions. One option is the use of laser technology to in situ repair defects of the ceramic pieces, preventing all the extra costs associated with a re-firing. Several authors indicating that CO2 laser is strongly absorbed by the ceramic material, allowing the repairs in a rapid and highly localized manner. This study present a new approach of using a CO2 laser to repair small defects on the surface of ceramics glazed. The application of laser technology to the traditional repairing material proved problematic since it was detected the formation of microcracks ascribed to thermal stresses generated by the high temperature gradients. To overcome this, alternative approaches through changing the interaction area of the laser beam on the piece to repair, in order to reduce the thermal stresses due to the heat by laser beam. Repaired defects were evaluated based on the velocity of the piece motion to laser focus, power of the laser, presence of cracks on the surface and the size of microscopic cracks. The incident laser power, duration of laser heating/cooling and velocity of approach were analysed. After laser treatment the restored surfaces and cross sections were analysed by μ-Raman spectroscopy, 3D optical profilometry and optical microscopy together with optical and chemical/mechanical characterization. The results show the effect of velocity and power laser of the spread of cracks and microcracks on the surface of material irradiated. Nevertheless, this new approaches show good results to implement laser technology in the repair of ceramic industry.

Palanivel Molaiyan obtained his Master’s in Materials Science (2010) at PSG College of Technology, India. During a three years period in the industrial sector he worked as a Technician and Application Scientist at Hind High Vacuum Co. Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, India. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD in Science (2014-2018) from Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia. His research topic is on fluoride-ion based batteries using solid-state electrolytes under the supervision of Prof. (Associate) Dr. Raiker Witter, TUT, Estonia and KIT, Germany. His research expertise is in materials science and electrochemistry, especially working on new solid-state electrolytes based on rare earth and alkali fluoride materials for the development of room temperature fluoride-ion based batteries.

All-solid-state secondary batteries employing solid electrolytes are potentially more stable and safer than conventional batteries. At present, investigations and improvements of the ionic conductivities of solid electrolytes are attracting great attention. Here, we discuss the creation of defects (vacancy or point defects) in Pbx-1SnxF2, Bax-1SnxF2, CaF2, and (interstitial defect) Sm1-xCaxF3-x systems. Also, we discuss the introduction of additional surface defects to enhance conductivities at grain boundaries and nano-particle surfaces. Our samples were prepared by high-energy planetary ball-milling. Structural, morphology and conductive properties of the synthesized electrolytes were examined. Crystal structure, crystal/particle sizes and local molecular environment were examined with X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies. At room temperature, the ionic conductivities of the systems were obtained to be between 10-3 to 10-5 S/cm. Finally, based on these solid-state electrolytes, different fluoride ion batteries (FIB) at room temperature performance (RT-FIB) were prepared and electrochemical cycling behavior studies carried out.