Lithium nitrides as sustainable energy materials

Lithium nitride is an exceptional yet simple compound with remarkable properties that can be tuned with judicious chemical modifications. A unique structure coupled with high ionic mobility present both a fundamental model and an advanced material for energy applications, involving either storage of charge (lithium) or storage of hydrogen. In the former case, and as an electrode material, the system can be modified to increase defects and the number of charge carriers, both ionic and electronic. In so doing, one can create anodes of high reversible capacity. In the latter context, tailoring structure, microstructure, and composition has profound effects on both the amount of hydrogen one can store in the solid state and the rate at which this process (uptake and release) can be achieved.