Project description
Energy storage with sustainable paper membranes
The shift toward green energy is encountering a regulatory hurdle. Widely used perfluorinated membranes in fuel cells and batteries are facing potential restrictions due to concerns over their environmental impact. With this in mind, the EIC-funded IONPAP project aims to transform ordinary, sustainably sourced paper into high-performance ion-conductive membranes. Specifically, it integrates ionic liquids into a paper matrix to create nanochannels for efficient ion transport. This ‘poly-ionic liquid-paper network’ aims to match the performance of traditional membranes at a fraction of the cost. Ultimately, IONPAP’s goal is to deliver a scalable, environmentally safe solution for flow batteries and electrolysers, proving that the future of clean energy can be both high-tech and biodegradable.
Objective
The Grand Challenge in advancing energy storage and conversion technologies and beyond necessitates cost-effective components that have minimal environmental impact and can be produced at scale without reliance on strategically constrained or critical raw materials. In this context, ion conductive membranes are integral parts of many of these technologies such as flow batteries, electrolyzers, fuel cells and electrodialysis. IonPap addresses this challenge by innovating sustainable alternatives to traditional membranes, which currently rely on hazardous perfluorinated (e.g. Nafion) materials, currently considered to be banned by the EU policy. By leveraging a commodity product, paper, which is produced sustainably across Europe, IonPap introduces ion conductivity through the application of sustainably sourced ionic liquids, subsequently polymerized to form an interpenetrated poly-ionic liquid-paper network. This novel architecture features nanochannels that facilitate efficient ion transport comparable to current PFAS-type membranes. Building on the foundational research conducted in the EIC Pathfinder project VanillaFlow (GA no. 101115293), IonPap aims to translate laboratory-scale feasibility into optimized membrane performance, pilot production capabilities, and comprehensive techno-economic and life cycle assessments (TRL-6). Our objectives include achieving membrane costs which are much lower than currently used membranes while ensuring environmental safety and performance benchmarks that meet or exceed those of traditional PFAS type membranes.
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.
- engineering and technology chemical engineering separation technologies desalination electrodialysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering mining and mineral processing
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants
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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) HORIZON-EIC-2025-TRANSITIONOPEN
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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.
8020 GRAZ
Austria
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.