Advanced batteries for hybrid vehicles: Understanding how the physico-chemical structure influences performance

Advanced lead-acid batteries for use in micro-hybrid vehicles show great potential due to their low-cost and ability to charge and discharge very rapidly. In this application, the structure of the battery electrodes is critical to their performance and long-term stability. In this project, the influence of the negative electrode’s structure on dynamic charge acceptance will be investigated. Due to the complexity of full-scale negative electrodes, this project will use model electrode structures (e.g. thin Pb/PbSO4 films on glassy carbon or graphite fibres) to enable both ex-situ and in-situ structure analysis to be performed immediately after electrode formation as well as during repetitive charge-discharge cycles. It is envisioned that x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy will be combined with electrochemical techniques to study these electrodes.

Applicants with chemical engineering, electrochemistry, physical chemistry or materials science experience are preferred.