Objective
Redox flow batteries are promising for grid-scale energy storage, but their widespread adoption is limited by critical performance and cost limitations arising from suboptimal porous electrodes and stack design. Conventional fibrous electrodes, repurposed from fuel cells, suffer from poor mass transport and limited accessible surface area, while current stack architectures cannot mitigate local performance heterogeneities – leading to uneven aging, reduced durability, and high system costs. In our ongoing ERC Starting Grant (FAIR-RFB), we have pioneered a new class of electrode materials by integrating advanced computational models and synthetic methods to achieve highly controlled electrode morphologies.
In this ERC Proof of Concept project (PhaseUP), we propose a paradigm shift where these novel electrode architectures are integrated in segmented stacks, and these are optimized in tandem. Using non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS), we have developed porous carbon electrodes with tunable, fully interconnected microstructure ideally suited for flow electrochemistry. These electrodes deliver unprecedently high and near-theoretical power densities (>1.8 W cm-2) in all-vanadium flow batteries at laboratory scale and are protected by recent intellectual property filings.
PhaseUP will scale this innovation into modular short-stack architectures (>200 cm2), co-optimizing electrode properties and flow frame designs to ensure uniform performance across segments and benchmarking against commercial carbon felts. This work directly targets key barriers to RFB competitiveness by lowering manufacturing costs, improving efficiency, and enabling tailored electrode geometries. If successful, PhaseUP will establish NIPS as a platform technology for porous electrodes, enabling next-generation energy storage by bridging fundamental materials innovation and real-world deployment.
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept 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) ERC-2026-POC
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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.
5612 AE Eindhoven
Netherlands
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.