Grain Boundary Engineering at the Interface of Ceramic and Composite Materials used in Alternative Energy Technologies

Complex ceramic and composite materials used in alternative energy technologies often present challenges during electron microscopy analysis. Bulk electrical properties such as transport and mobility are crucial factors in carbon based or nanomaterial composites often analyzed at the atomic or molecular level despite the presence of localized chemical composition and resultant phase transformation along its interface. Such materials often undergo transformations in dynamic environments such as a combination of high temperature and reducing gases. Data derived from multiple electron microscopy analytical techniques are presented as a focus for grain boundary engineering in ceramic and composite materials. The materials are used in solid oxide fuel cells and Li-ion batteries for applications related to the development of catalysts and novel ion conducting materials for alternative energy technologies.