Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Systems Materials Engineering for High-Rate Bulk Solid-State Conversion in Metal-Sulfur Batteries

Objective

Batteries will be key in our efforts to reduce CO2 emissions but require major progress in sustainability, cost, and energy density. Liquid-electrolyte metal-sulfur batteries would be game-changers in many respects: a theoretical capacity amongst the highest of all batteries paired with the low cost and sustainability of sulfur. However, intrinsic obstacles are imposed by the electronically and ionically insulating nature of sulfur. Converting sulfur during discharge/charge is fundamentally different from mixed-conducting storage materials. While Li-ion battery materials transform in the solid-state, sulfur converts to metal sulfides in a solid-liquid-solid process. This causes poor cycle life and insufficient energy densities.
In this project, we approach the fundamental challenge of sulfur phase transformation in a novel way: high-rate conversion in the bulk solid-state. We will pioneer advanced metrologies such as cryo-electron microscopy and in situ grazing incidence scattering with stochastic modeling to quantify the phase evolution during electrochemical sulfur conversion at atomic and mesoscopic (1-1000 nm) length scales. Based on systematic experiments on 2D transition metal carbide (MXene) substrates, we will establish the scientific foundations of solid-liquid-solid and solid-state sulfur phase transformation. Finally, we will form cathodes as artificial solid mixed conductors by structuring sulfides and MXenes to enable high-rate bulk solid-state sulfur conversion. This will solve the cycle life issue of Me-S batteries and boost the stored energy by maximizing the sulfur packing density.
Foundation of SOLIDCON is a systems materials engineering approach, identifying how mutual structuring of storage materials, electron conductors, and ion conductors defines the physicochemical processes across length scales: electron, ion and mass transport, and electrochemical conversion.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2022-STG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

PARIS-LODRON-UNIVERSITAT SALZBURG
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 374 448,00
Address
KAPITELGASSE 4-6
5020 SALZBURG
Austria

See on map

Region
Westösterreich Salzburg Salzburg und Umgebung
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 374 448,00

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0