Bi-directional tuning of thermal transport in SrCoO with electrochemically induced phase transitions.

Unlike the wide-ranging dynamic control of electrical conductivity, there does not exist an analogous ability to tune thermal conductivity by means of electric potential. The traditional picture assumes that atoms inserted into a material's lattice act purely as a source of scattering for thermal carriers, which can only reduce thermal conductivity. In contrast, here we show that the electrochemical control of oxygen and proton concentration in an oxide provides a new ability to bi-directionally control thermal conductivity.

Electrochemistry of magnesium electrolytes in ionic liquids for secondary batteries.

The electrochemistry of Mg salts in room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) was studied using plating/stripping voltammetry to assess the viability of IL solvents for applications in secondary Mg batteries. Borohydride (BH4(-)), trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfO(-)), and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Tf2N(-)) salts of Mg were investigated. Three ILs were considered: l-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIM)-Tf2N, N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium (PP13)-Tf2N, and N,N-diethyl-N-methyl(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium (DEME(+)) tetrafluoroborate (BF4(-)).