This PhD subject will aim at developing new positive electrode materials based on glasses for high Energy Density Li-Ion and Na-Ion cells with reduced critical material content. These developments will be held jointly between the laboratory of materials for batteries from CEA-Grenoble and LDMC lab from CEA-Marcoule that is specialized in the formulation and characterization of glass materials.
The work will be focused on the optimization of the complex formulation of the glass cathodes to solve the issues related to first cycle irreversible loss and low cycling performances. The main objective will be to obtain one composition without critical raw materials exhibiting more than 1000Wh/kg at active material level vs 700 for state-of-the-art materials. This target will be reached with the support of advanced characterization techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction and RAMAN and FTIR spectroscopies. A dedicated effort will concern the development of operando or in-situ measures to be able to explain the link between electrochemical performances and glass characteristics, what has never been reported in the litterature.
This thesis will allow the candidate to gain valuable professional experience in the glass and energy sectors. He or she will develop skills in materials science and electrochemistry. In addition, thanks to his work environment, he will be able to assimilate a culture of nuclear waste conditioning.