scholarly journals Why Is Tetrahydrofuran a Good Solvent for Calcium Batteries? Insights From Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreyas Pathreeker ◽  
Ian D. Hosein
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ab Initio ◽  
Design Principle ◽  
Liquid Electrolyte ◽  
Cyclic Ether ◽  
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Metal Anode ◽  
Electrolyte Component ◽  
Calcium Metal ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Calcium batteries are rapidly emerging as a potential, future energy storage technology; however, their advancement relies heavily on understanding of the liquid electrolyte component in terms of stability and interactions with a calcium metal anode. Tetrahydrofuran, a cyclic ether, is an experimentally common and promising solvent for the preparation of stable and efficient calcium electrolytes. However, insights into the reasons why are lacking, which could unveil key principles to electrolyte design. In this report, we provide a theoretical study employing ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations of the interactions of Ca metal with the cyclic ether tetrahydrofuran (THF). The results show that the electrochemical breakdown and decomposition of THF at the Ca surface is highly orientation- and surface-site dependent, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of its instability in a randomly organized bulk solvent. Likewise, in bulk electrolytes, its likelihood for breakdown is further diminished, in preference for coordination Ca2+ to form solvated structure. Hence, the finding that molecules require such strict conditions for their decomposition is an important selection and design principle for any solvent to prepare suitable calcium electrolytes. These findings are critical to the advancement of the calcium batteries.

scholarly journals Why Is Tetrahydrofuran a Good Solvent for Calcium Batteries? Insights From Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreyas Pathreeker ◽  
Ian Hosein
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ab Initio ◽  
Design Principle ◽  
Liquid Electrolyte ◽  
Cyclic Ether ◽  
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Metal Anode ◽  
Electrolyte Component ◽  
Calcium Metal ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Calcium batteries are rapidly emerging as a potential, future energy storage technology; however, their advancement relies heavily on understanding of the liquid electrolyte component in terms of stability and interactions with a calcium metal anode. Tetrahydrofuran, a cyclic ether, is an experimentally common and promising solvent for the preparation of stable and efficient calcium electrolytes. However, insights into the reasons why are lacking, which could unveil key principles to electrolyte design. In this report, we provide a theoretical study employing ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations of the interactions of Ca metal with the cyclic ether tetrahydrofuran (THF). The results show that the electrochemical breakdown and decomposition of THF at the Ca surface is highly orientation- and surface-site dependent, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of its instability in a randomly organized bulk solvent. Likewise, in bulk electrolytes, its likelihood for breakdown is further diminished, in preference for coordination Ca2+ to form solvated structure. Hence, the finding that molecules require such strict conditions for their decomposition is an important selection and design principle for any solvent to prepare suitable calcium electrolytes. These findings are critical to the advancement of the calcium batteries.

scholarly journals Proton Transport Mechanism and Pathways in the Superprotonic Phase of M3H(AO4)2 Solid Acids from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Merinov ◽  
Sergey Morozov
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ab Initio ◽  
Proton Transport ◽  
Transport Mechanism ◽  
Solid Acids ◽  
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Theoretical Studies ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Experimental And Theoretical Studies ◽  
Superprotonic Phase

The proton transport mechanism in superprotonic phases of solid acids is a subject of experimental and theoretical studies for a number of years. Despite this, details of the mechanism still...

scholarly journals OH− and H3O+ Diffusion in Model AEMs and PEMs at Low Hydration: Insights from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics

Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 355
Author(s):  
Tamar Zelovich ◽  
Mark E. Tuckerman
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Ab Initio ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Anion Exchange Membranes ◽  
Diffusion Mechanisms ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Fuel cell-based anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) and proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are considered to have great potential as cost-effective, clean energy conversion devices. However, a fundamental atomistic understanding of the hydroxide and hydronium diffusion mechanisms in the AEM and PEM environment is an ongoing challenge. In this work, we aim to identify the fundamental atomistic steps governing hydroxide and hydronium transport phenomena. The motivation of this work lies in the fact that elucidating the key design differences between the hydroxide and hydronium diffusion mechanisms will play an important role in the discovery and determination of key design principles for the synthesis of new membrane materials with high ion conductivity for use in emerging fuel cell technologies. To this end, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations are presented to explore hydroxide and hydronium ion solvation complexes and diffusion mechanisms in the model AEM and PEM systems at low hydration in confined environments. We find that hydroxide diffusion in AEMs is mostly vehicular, while hydronium diffusion in model PEMs is structural. Furthermore, we find that the region between each pair of cations in AEMs creates a bottleneck for hydroxide diffusion, leading to a suppression of diffusivity, while the anions in PEMs become active participants in the hydronium diffusion, suggesting that the presence of the anions in model PEMs could potentially promote hydronium diffusion.

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