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Lithium battery technology is an evolving field as commercial requirements for storage and use of energy demand smaller, safer, more efficient and longer-lasting batteries. Copper ferrite, CuFe2O4, is a promising candidate for application as a high energy electrode material in lithium based batteries. Mechanistic insight on the electrochemical reduction and oxidation processes was gained through the first X-ray absorption spectroscopic study of lithiation and delithiation of CuFe2O4. The results provide new mechanistic insight regarding the evolution of the local coordination environments at the iron and copper centers upon discharging and charging. Students learn about normal and inverse spinel structures, solid cathode electrochemical processes and the use of X-ray absorption spectroscopy to figure out local structure, oxidation state and coordination environment.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Brief introduction to X-ray absorption spectroscopy | 4.07 MB |
| CuFe2O4 Student Handout | 701.06 KB |
1. Students should become familiar with the parts and charging/discharging of a solid-state lithium battery, and relate to introductory discussions of redox chemistry.
2. Student should learn about spinel and inverse spinel structures, and be able to relate to cubic unit cell types presented in General Chemistry.
3. Students should learn how X-ray absorption spectroscopy can be used to evaluate oxidation state and local coordination environment in a solid.
The powerpoint presentation about X-ray absorption spectroscopy can be used to provide background for the analytical techniques used in this research. The classic spinel structure should be discussed in class. Otherwise, this can be implemented like any other Literature Discussion.
Evaluation
Different models for class implementation:
1. Professor-led student discussion; monitor quantity and quality of individual student input.
2. Student-led presentation and discussion (pairs work well); grading of presentation and quality of question answers.
3. Student written report answering Literature Discussion questions.
We have not implemented this Literature Discussion in class yet.