About this Research Topic
In the energy domain, many applications such as batteries, fuel cells and water splitting, are based on the use of an electrochemical cell. Such a cell is composed of an assembly of active layers, typically two
electrodes on both sides of a liquid or solid electrolyte. These active layers, including the electrolyte if as a solid phase, can be prepared by many synthesis methods. Traditionally, synthesis methods are liquid-
route ones, being raw materials consuming and low environmental friendly. Moreover, liquid-route synthesis methods give rise to active layers (electrode supports, catalyst, electrolyte membrane) whose bonding as a membrane-electrodes assembly often cause poor interfacial quality, which is detrimental to the cells performance. Lastly, traditional synthesis methods are not always suitable to up scaling with a view to industrialization. On the contrary, CVD processes (including thermal CVD, MOCVD, PECVD…) have proved their competitiveness in points of view of materials quality and durability, economy and sustainability, especially in the microelectronics and optics domains. More recently, it has been proved their interest for the preparation/modification of active layers in electrochemical cells in the energy domain.
In this research topic, we would like to show the competitiveness of CVD/ALD-deposited or CVD/ALD-modified thin films (when compared to more traditional liquid-route prepared materials) as active layers in electrochemical cell dedicated to energy applications (batteries, fuel cells, water splitting…). Indeed, CVD processes (including thermal CVD, MOCVD, PECVD…) are well-known to be economically and environmentally competitive. Moreover, CVD processes make possible the preparation of membrane-electrodes assemblies with good integrity due to high chemical compatibility and conformity between all active layers. Lastly, CVD-processes enable to deposit very thin films offering lower charge transfer resistance than more classical materials, which is obviously beneficial to the cells performance. This competitiveness is largely recognized in the microelectronics and optics domains. More recently, it has been proved in the energy domain. Nevertheless, many efforts are still to be made so that CVD and ALD processes can be recognized as industrial routes in such a domain.
In this research topic, we would like to address the applications of the energy domain based on the use of an electrochemical cell, such as batteries, fuel cells, water splitting….
For such applications, we would like to tackle with CVD/ALD-processed (deposition/modification) thin films as active layers in electrochemical cells. CVD-processed include thermal CVD, MOCVD, PECVD… i.e. all CVD-derived processes.
Research studies can concern
- the development of CVD/ALD-processes themselves, i.e. the characterization of the gaseous phase being the synthesis phase of such processes, and the correlations between the macroscopic and the microscopic /fundamental parameters of such processes.
Alternatively, research studies can concern
-the morphological, structural and functional properties of CVD/ALD-processed thin films (in relation with synthesis parameters).
Different types of thin films as active layers can be considered:
-electrode supports catalyst
-electrode binder
-electrolyte membrane, as individual materials or as multi-
layered assemblies.
Of course, the approaches dedicated to materials assembly, cell design, cell tests are also in the scope of the Research topic.
electrodes on both sides of a liquid or solid electrolyte. These active layers, including the electrolyte if as a solid phase, can be prepared by many synthesis methods. Traditionally, synthesis methods are liquid-
route ones, being raw materials consuming and low environmental friendly. Moreover, liquid-route synthesis methods give rise to active layers (electrode supports, catalyst, electrolyte membrane) whose bonding as a membrane-electrodes assembly often cause poor interfacial quality, which is detrimental to the cells performance. Lastly, traditional synthesis methods are not always suitable to up scaling with a view to industrialization. On the contrary, CVD processes (including thermal CVD, MOCVD, PECVD…) have proved their competitiveness in points of view of materials quality and durability, economy and sustainability, especially in the microelectronics and optics domains. More recently, it has been proved their interest for the preparation/modification of active layers in electrochemical cells in the energy domain.
In this research topic, we would like to show the competitiveness of CVD/ALD-deposited or CVD/ALD-modified thin films (when compared to more traditional liquid-route prepared materials) as active layers in electrochemical cell dedicated to energy applications (batteries, fuel cells, water splitting…). Indeed, CVD processes (including thermal CVD, MOCVD, PECVD…) are well-known to be economically and environmentally competitive. Moreover, CVD processes make possible the preparation of membrane-electrodes assemblies with good integrity due to high chemical compatibility and conformity between all active layers. Lastly, CVD-processes enable to deposit very thin films offering lower charge transfer resistance than more classical materials, which is obviously beneficial to the cells performance. This competitiveness is largely recognized in the microelectronics and optics domains. More recently, it has been proved in the energy domain. Nevertheless, many efforts are still to be made so that CVD and ALD processes can be recognized as industrial routes in such a domain.
In this research topic, we would like to address the applications of the energy domain based on the use of an electrochemical cell, such as batteries, fuel cells, water splitting….
For such applications, we would like to tackle with CVD/ALD-processed (deposition/modification) thin films as active layers in electrochemical cells. CVD-processed include thermal CVD, MOCVD, PECVD… i.e. all CVD-derived processes.
Research studies can concern
- the development of CVD/ALD-processes themselves, i.e. the characterization of the gaseous phase being the synthesis phase of such processes, and the correlations between the macroscopic and the microscopic /fundamental parameters of such processes.
Alternatively, research studies can concern
-the morphological, structural and functional properties of CVD/ALD-processed thin films (in relation with synthesis parameters).
Different types of thin films as active layers can be considered:
-electrode supports catalyst
-electrode binder
-electrolyte membrane, as individual materials or as multi-
layered assemblies.
Of course, the approaches dedicated to materials assembly, cell design, cell tests are also in the scope of the Research topic.
Keywords: CVD, MOCVD, oCVD, PECVD, iCVD, thin films, (photo-)electrodes, electrolyte membrane, (photo-)electrochemical cells, energy domain, CVD Process, CVD-derived process, ALD process, electrochemical cell
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