Publication Date

8-2018

Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)

6-15-2018

Type of Culminating Activity

Dissertation

Degree Title

Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Engineering

Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Supervisory Committee Chair

Hui (Claire) Xiong, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Janelle P. Wharry, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Darryl Butt, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Brian J. Jaques, Ph.D.

Abstract

This dissertation presents the mechanisms of irradiation induced defects and the resulting electrochemical response of TiO2 anode for ­lithium-ion-batteries. The objective is to realize pathways by which irradiation could be used to enhance the energy density of rechargeable lithium ion batteries in order to provide power to applications under extreme environments. Recent studies suggest that the presence of structural defects (e.g. vacancies and interstitials) in metal oxides may enhance the electrochemical charge storage capacity in electrode materials. One approach to induce defect formation in electrode materials is to use ion irradiation, which has been proven to produce point defects in a target material.

The effect of low energy proton irradiation, at both room temperature and 250˚C, on amorphous and anatase TiO2 nanotube electrodes, as well as heavy-ion irradiation on single crystal TiO2 is discussed. Nanotube electrodes, as well as lamella prepared from single crystal samples, were characterized with Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the structural phenomena that occur during irradiation. Furthermore, various electrochemical tests have been performed to study the irradiation response to lithiation after irradiation. It has been shown in this work that tailoring the defect density in metal oxides through ion irradiation presents new avenues for design of advanced electrode materials.

DOI

10.18122/td/1443/boisestate

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