Size Effects - Nanoionics

Decreasing particle sizes to the nanometer scale modifies materials properties by several effects: (i) increasing density of interfaces, (ii) overlap of space charge zones, (iii) electronic confinement effects, (iv) ionic confinement effects, (v) internal pressure / surface energy. This can lead to completely new properties, e.g. allow for lithium storage in a composite where the individual phases are not electrochemically active.

• J. Maier: Nanoionics: ionic charge carriers in small systems Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 11(17), 3011-3022 (2009). DOI: 10.1039/b902586n
• J. Maier: Nanoionics: ion transport and electrochemical storage in confined systems Nature Materials 4(11), 805-815 (2005). DOI: 10.1038/nmat1513

• Interface effects on the electrical conductivity of oxide thin films
• Confinement effects in ultrathin perovskite films: ab initio calculations
• Proton conduction in nanocrystalline oxides
• Photovoltaic properties and defect chemistry of nanocrystalline materials for solar cells
• Interface effects in superconducting heterostructures
• nano-ionics
• Electronic wiring and the defect chemistry of nano-anatase Li_xTiO_2-δ battery electrodes
• space charge effects in Li conducting thin films
• "Soggy sand" electrolytes with mesoporous silica fillers
• microstructure of proton conducting polymers
• Size effects of LiFePO₄
• novel battery cathodes and anodes