Outreach: Math Academy and Discovery Days Rajendra Bordia , University of Washington, DMR 1008600

1. Using Ice to make Advanced Energy SystemsRajendraK. Bordia, University of Washington, DMR 1008600 Outcome: Researchers at the University of Washington, in collaboration with colleagues in France are developing multifunctional hierarchical, anisotropic porous ceramics. Impact: These materials will enable significant improvements in a broad range of energy systems including fuel cells and batteries leading to lower fossil fuel use and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Explanation: In order to optimize transport of gases or fluids, and high chemical reactivity, many natural systems have a hierarchical and anisotropic structure. Examples include the blood circulatory system and capillary system in plants. Many advanced energy conversion and storage systems also require efficient fluid transport and high chemical reactivity together with good mechanical and thermal properties. Prof. Bordia’s group at the University of Washington, in collaboration with Dr. Martin at CNRS, Grenoble, France, is working on a Materials World Network project to design and process hierarchical anisotropic porous ceramics for next generation of energy conversion and storage systems.

2. Process Optimization: Dynamic Temperature ProfileRajendraK. Bordia, University of Washington, DMR 1008600 One of the objectives of the project that was accomplished this year was the optimization of the process to make unidirectionally aligned pores of uniform size. Freezing ceramic slurries at a constant temperature (i.e. static directionally freezing) leads to a structure with pores that are tortuous and whose size changes significantly over the length of the sample. This is due the increased thermal resistance from the partially frozen sample. The decreased thermal gradient slows solidification and allows larger crystals to grow. By directionally freezing the slurries at a dynamic rate where the cold finger temperature is constantly decreasing, the speed of the solidification front can be held constant leading to straight aligned pores with little size variation. This type of structure is ideal for electrodes since it allows for optimal gas flow and reaction surface area while maintaining structural integrity throughout the electrode.

3. Outreach: Math Academy and Discovery DaysRajendraBordia, University of Washington, DMR 1008600 Integration of this project in UG education, community and K-12 outreach is an important element of this project at the University of Washington. One UG student (Guy Guday) conducted his senior thesis on porous cathodes for batteries. Researchers working on this project have contributed to multiple outreach events that were held throughout the year for local students of all ages. They are incorporating results from this research into a suite of outreach activities that Prof. Bordia’s group participates in. The two most important ones are the College of Engineering’s Discovery days and the Math Academy.