Rechargeable non-aqueous metal–oxygen batteries Faraday Discussion

18 - 20 September 2023, York, United Kingdom


Phishing Warning
We are aware that some speakers and delegates have been approached by companies claiming to operate on behalf of the Royal Society of Chemistry to book their travel and accommodation for our conferences. Please note that whilst we do sometimes work with accommodation providers in order to facilitate hotel bookings, they would never approach you in the first instance. Details of accommodation providers that we are working with are in the ‘accommodation’ section of this webpage. If you are unsure about an e-mail / phone call you receive, please contact us and do not provide any credit card details or personal information.
Introduction

This Faraday discussion will be a hybrid event, allowing participation both in person and online.

Welcome

Join us in York, or online, in September 2023 for this addition to our Faraday Discussion series. For over 100 years and 300 meetings, Faraday Discussions have been the forefront of physical chemistry. Many of these Discussions have become landmark meetings in their field.

This meeting is for established and early-career scientists, post-graduate students and industrial researchers interested in rechargeable non-aqueous metal–oxygen cells.

Given the intensive worldwide research efforts over the past decade in these cells and the resulting improvements in fundamental understanding of the associated electrochemistry and chemistry, the unique format of the Faraday Discussions will allow for in-depth discussions of the major challenges that must be overcome to bring this technology into practical application.

The meeting will bring together the wide range of scientists working on metal–oxygen batteries and allow opportunities to establish new collaborations.

On behalf of our committee, we look forward to welcoming you to York, or if you are joining us virtually, online.

Laurence Hardwick
Chair

Format of the Discussion

Faraday Discussions have a special format where primary research papers written by the speakers are distributed to all participants before the meeting, and most of the meeting is devoted to discussing the papers. All delegates at the meeting, not just speakers, have the opportunity to make comments, ask questions, or present complementary or contradictory measurements and calculations during the discussion sessions. In addition, there is a dedicated poster session where further discussion takes place. The research papers and a record of the discussion are published in the journal Faraday Discussions.

Find out more about the Faraday Discussions in the video.

Themes

Metal–oxygen batteries have the potential to exceed the stored energy of today’s most advanced lithium-ion cells. However, their recharge and cyclability efficiency pose a major challenge to bringing this technology into practical application, as does improving our fundamental understanding of the electrochemistry and chemistry inside the cell. Li–O2 and Na–O2 are the most reported types of metal–oxygen cells but there has also been much recent work on K, Ca and Mg–O2 systems in non-aqueous electrolytes, which present different challenges and opportunities in terms of the stability and safety of the metal electrode. A critical examination of the state-of-play of metal–oxygen batteries is required to identify the major obstacles that remain in developing practical systems.

The Discussion will focus on the following four themes: 

​Mechanism of ORR and OER in non-aqueous electrolytes
ORR/OER (oxygen reduction/evolution reaction) mechanisms in non-aqueous electrolytes are sensitive to solvent choice, salt, temperature, electrode substrate, generation of singlet oxygen and water content. Discussion in this section will focus on understanding ORR and OER using fundamental or well-characterised electrode systems, and the use of redox mediators and how to obtain high coulombic and charge–discharge efficiencies.

Materials for stable metal–oxygen battery cathodes
This session will cover the development and characterisation of practical cathodes and understanding how to generate reversible reactions within and upon applied electrode architectures. Key discussion points will include material interface design, morphology of cathode materials, the use of carbon as an electrode substrate, reproducible cell testing and chemical and electrochemical characterisation techniques.

Metal anodes and protected interfaces
Major issues around safety, reversible stripping and plating and dendrite formation have been known for some metal anodes for over 30 years. Key challenges in the field include developing stable anode–electrolyte interfaces and solid electrolytes. Discussion will cover dendrite prevention, solid-state coatings and electrolytes, as well as how to achieve a stable solid–electrolyte interphase and minimise side reactions.

Towards practical metal–oxygen batteries
This session will discuss state-of-the-art metal–oxygen cells in terms of cyclability and durability. Key discussion points will include the metrics required at a materials level to obtain competitive performance with state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries.
Speakers
Abstract Submission

Oral abstracts

The deadline for oral presentation abstracts has now passed, however there remains an opportunity for a small number of late papers to be incorporated into the programme. If you are interested in submitting a paper for the Discussion please contact us to discuss. 

Submit an oral/paper abstract by 16 January 2023 if you wish to be considered for an oral presentation and associated published paper.  A full research paper containing new unpublished results always accompanies oral presentations at Faraday Discussions. The oral/paper abstract should outline current research in progress. Authors of the selected abstracts must then submit a full research paper with a significant amount of new, unpublished work by 24 April 2023

The research papers are reviewed upon submission and are sent to all delegates 4 weeks before the meeting so they can be read in advance. At the meeting the presenting author is allowed five minutes to highlight the main points of their paper, and the rest of the time is for discussion. The discussion is recorded and will be published alongside the research paper in the Faraday Discussion volume.   

Poster abstracts 

Submit your poster abstract by 10 July 2023. Posters are displayed throughout the meeting and a poster session is held on the first evening.  A poster prize will be awarded to the best poster presented by a student at the conference.

Additional information

All oral and poster abstracts will be reviewed by the committee. Authors will be notified of the outcome of the review process within about 6 weeks of the submission deadline. The abstracts should be no longer than one A4 page in portrait layout. Please ensure you provide the details of the presenting author and indicate whether you are submitting an abstract for oral or poster presentation.
Registration

Registration opening soon

Planning your trip
We encourage delegates who are planning to attend events in person to arrange suitable travel and accommodation insurance, which should include cover for the postponement or cancellation of travel caused by regulations and guidelines relating to Covid-19. We also recommend considering flexible travel and accommodation booking options where possible.

Please note accommodation is not included in the registration fee.

In-person registration includes:
  • Attendance at all scientific sessions
  • Live interaction with delegates attending virtually
  • Attendance at the poster session and access to the virtual poster gallery
  • Refreshments throughout the meeting and lunch on all three days
  • Attendance at the poster drinks reception on 18 September 2023
  • Attendance at the conference dinner on 19 September 2023
  • Access to all journal paper pdf “pre-prints” before the meeting
  • Access to recordings of all scientific sessions post-event
  • *A copy of the Faraday Discussions journal volume, issued approximately 5 months after the meeting, containing all papers presented at the meeting and accompanying discussion comments.
In-person registration fees are as follows (subject to VAT at the prevailing rate):
Early bird
07 August 2023
Standard
29 August 2023
RSC Member* £395 £445
Non member* £495 £545
Student RSC member £195 £245
Student non member £245 £295
Accompnaying person £125 £125

Virtual registration includes:​
  • Attendance at all scientific sessions via the Royal Society of Chemistry’s virtual conference platform
  • Live interaction with delegates attending in-person and other virtual delegates
  • Access to the virtual poster gallery and exhibitor/sponsor virtual rooms
  • Access to all journal paper pdf “pre-prints” before the meeting
  • Access to recordings of all scientific sessions post-event
  • *A copy of the Faraday Discussions journal volume, issued approximately 5 months after the meeting, containing all papers presented at the meeting and accompanying discussion comments.
Virtual registration fees are as follows (subject to VAT at the prevailing rate):
 
Standard
RSC member* £235
Non-member* £295
Student RSC member £115
Student non-member £145
 

Student delegates

In order to encourage undergraduate or postgraduate students to attend the Discussion, a reduced conference fee is available for students. This fee applies to those undertaking a full-time course for a recognised degree or a diploma at a university or equivalent institution.

A copy of the Faraday Discussion journal volume containing papers presented at the Discussion (issued approximately 5 months after the meeting) is not included in the student registration fee. Students may purchase a copy of the volume at less than half price. This discounted price is available to delegates when ordering during the registration process, or orders placed at the meeting where an application form will be made available. 

Accompanying person

If you would like to bring a guest to the conference, this can be done during the registration process. There will be an additional charge which will include all lunches, refreshments and the conference dinner. The fee does not include attendance at any scientific sessions, journal paper pre-prints or the journal volume.

Accessibility

The RSC is keen to encourage and enable as many people as possible to attend our events, to benefit from the networking opportunities and the chance to hear talks from leaders in the field. If you would like to discuss accessibility, or have childcare, caring responsibilities or other care needs, please contact us to discuss your requirements so that we can enable your attendance. Please refer also to our Grants for carers fund, for more information please see the ‘bursaries’ section on this page.


Terms and Conditions for Events run by the Royal Society of Chemistry

Bursaries

Researcher development grant

If you are an RSC member and a PhD student or postdoctoral researcher based at a higher education or research institution you are eligible to apply for a Researcher development grant.

This grant can provide up to £500 towards activities that will develop your skills and experience as a researcher, which includes participation at conferences, either in-person or virtual.

Applications are processed monthly, with the deadline for each round being the last day of the month, and decisions being sent out by the 21st of the following month. Researcher development grants can be applied for in addition to Grants for Carers and Assistance Grants.

Grants for carers

Grants for carers have been introduced following the Royal Society of Chemistry Breaking the barriers report where 78% of chemists working in UK academia felt that managing parenting and/or caring responsibilities has an impact on women’s retention and progression. This fund is not limited to women scientists and welcomes applications from anyone with caring responsibilities. These grants have been supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Chemists’ Community Fund.

You can apply for up to a maximum of £1000/year to assist with additional financial costs that you incur for care usually provided by you whilst you attend a chemistry related meeting, conference or workshop or a professional development event.

Caring responsibilities are wide and varied, and so each application will be individually assessed, examples of applications that we will consider include:
  • paying for extra home help or nursing care for a dependent whilst you will not be present
  • additional medical/respite care for a dependent whilst you will not be present
  • travel expenses for a relative to travel with you to care for dependents whilst you attend a meeting or event
  • paying for extended hours with a care worker/childminder/play scheme to cover time when you will arrive home later than normal.
You are eligible to apply if: 
  • you are a chemist
  • you will incur additional caring expenses whilst attending a chemistry-related meeting, conference, event or workshop or a professional development event
  • you will use these funds to cover the cost of care that you usually provide 
  • you are based in the UK or Ireland or if not, you will normally have held three years RSC membership (past or current).

Sponsorship & supporting organisations
A selection of sponsorship opportunities is available for companies who would like to promote their activities at the 2023 Faraday Discussion series

There are opportunities available to become the Faraday Discussion series sponsor,  Research & Development partner or Poster prize series sponsor as well as some individual meeting options. A sponsorship menu document will be available to download from this page with more details and prices.

Please note that exhibition spaces are limited, spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

If you would like more information about sponsoring the 2023 Faraday Discussion series, please contact the Commercial Sales Department at the Royal Society of Chemistry on advertising@rsc.org
Venue
National STEM Learning Centre

National STEM Learning Centre, Univerity of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom


This event is a hybrid event. For those attending in-person, venue details are as below. Virtual attendance will take place via the Royal Society of Chemistry’s virtual conference platform. For details of what’s included in virtual and in-person attendance, please see the registration section.
 
We are actively planning to hold this event in a hybrid format. Should the event move to be held in virtual-only format, any in-person delegate registrations will be refunded for the difference between in-person and virtual registration fees.
Committee
Contact information
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