Project description
Freezing of aqueous solutions for electrical energy
The freezing of dilute aqueous solutions can generate electrical potentials of up to 230 V at the interface between ice and the solution, a phenomenon known as the Workman-Reynolds freezing potential (WRFP). Until now, no attempts have been made to harness energy from this freezing process. The ERC-funded Icevolt project aims to combine computing and nanotechnology to study stable WRFPs and explore energy generation during the freezing of aqueous solutions. The project will use atomistic modelling and experiments to screen ionic liquids to maximise WRFP and electrical energy output. Icevolt will investigate critical parameters for electrical energy generation and explore new energy outputs based on WRFP, paving the way for new research in green energy acquisition.
Objective
Water and aqueous solutions release a huge amount of thermal energy during freezing. Accessing energy utilizing the freezing process has never been attempted until today. It is known that orderly freezing of dilute aqueous solutions can result in electrical potentials as great as 230 volts at the ice-solution interface, namely the Workman-Reynolds freezing potential (WRFP), and a maximal electrical current of 1 µA. Based on our newly published results of counter ion separation during icing growth in ionic liquids, this project aims to combine high-throughput computing and nanotechnology for probing the approach of controlling and utilizing stable WRFPs and for the first time to enable energy exploration in the freezing process of aqueous solutions. Specifically, ionic liquids will be screened for maximizing WRFP and electrical energy output via atomistic modeling and multiscale experiments. Critical parameters for WRFP, including ion concentration, temperature and freezing rate, will be investigated for their effects in electrical energy generation. Novel electrical energy output based on WRFP will be constructed and tested, which will seed an entirely new green energy acquisition research and application field. The project, termed Icevoltaics, explores an un-touched energy source and provides highly innovative solutions of the future and clean energy.
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.
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
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
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.
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.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
7491 Trondheim
Norway
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.