Project description
Taking the heat off the clean energy transition
As lithium-ion batteries become essential to the EU’s clean energy transition, unresolved fire risks and full-lifecycle thermal safety concerns threaten public confidence and environmental objectives. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the THERMAL-BATT project will tackle this by developing smart materials that automatically switch between cooling and insulating the battery based on its internal temperature. By integrating temperature-responsive regulators with sustainable, bio-based flame retardants, the project seeks to prevent dangerous thermal runaway and greatly prolong battery lifespan. Other objectives include engineering advanced ceramic structures and understanding how these materials behave under stress. Ultimately, this project will produce safer, greener energy storage, supporting European technological sovereignty and a sustainable, climate-neutral future.
Objective
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are essential to Europe’s clean energy transition, enabling transport electrification, renewable integration, and climate neutrality. Global demand is projected to exceed 5000 GWh by 2030, yet unresolved full-lifecycle thermal safety challenges pose significant safety, environmental, and economic risks. These risks undermine public trust, industrial competitiveness, and the EU’s leadership in the global battery market. The THERMAL-MATER-BAT project pioneers self-adaptive, fire-safe, and sustainable thermal management materials that intelligently switch between thermal conduction and insulation depending on battery temperature. This functionality closes critical safety gaps by preventing thermal runaway and propagation, while enhancing battery reliability and lifespan. The concept combines temperature-responsive regulators, ceramicized hierarchical structures, bio-based flame retardants, and silicone rubber to deliver superior fire safety and sustainability, fully aligned with the European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals. The project pursues four objectives: (O1) design of temperature-responsive thermal regulators; (O2) engineering of ceramicized hierarchical structures; (O3) development of advanced thermal management materials with high safety and sustainability; and (O4) elucidation of performance and underlying mechanisms. This multidisciplinary framework integrates expertise in battery safety, polymer chemistry, and fire science to create materials with direct industrial relevance. EU support is vital to translate this breakthrough into practice. By investing in THERMAL-MATER-BAT, Europe will secure safer, longer-lasting, and greener battery systems, reduce environmental impact, reinforce technological sovereignty, and strengthen its global leadership in sustainable energy storage. The fellowship will advance frontier science while directly contributing to Europe’s green growth, energy security, and societal well-being.
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 environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- social sciences economics and business economics sustainable economy
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
28906 Getafe
Spain
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.