Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MATISSE (Multifunctional Hierarchically-Structured Systems for Energy Storage Devices)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2019-08-05 do 2021-08-04
The widespread use of portable devices, as well as the electrification of transport, require a new generation of energy storage devices that deliver higher specific performance than Li-ion batteries. Lightweight designs and energy efficiency have been widely considered as critical factors in the design of electric vehicles, which has led to the development of structural energy storage devices (SESDs). SESDs are multifunctional materials or structures, capable of acting as an electrochemical energy storage system (e.g. batteries and supercapacitors) while possessing mechanical integrity.
The objective of MATISSE was to merge materials typical of supercapacitors with materials characteristic of batteries in composites to improve the overall device performance in terms of voltage window, capacity and longevity in comparison with other systems. Moreover, by tailoring the structure of these composites to carry mechanical loads as well as store electrochemical energy, it was possible to fabricate light SESDs with high energy and power densities.
The objective of MATISSE was to merge materials typical of supercapacitors with materials characteristic of batteries in composites to improve the overall device performance in terms of voltage window, capacity and longevity in comparison with other systems. Moreover, by tailoring the structure of these composites to carry mechanical loads as well as store electrochemical energy, it was possible to fabricate light SESDs with high energy and power densities.
MATISSE was divided into 6 work packages: (1) Conductive and structural network, (2) hierarchical architecture, (3) microstructure and electrochemical performance, (4) electrolytes based on rigid-flexible cross-linked network structures, (5) prototype, and (6) training, management and communication & dissemination. The research developed during this project has yielded 5 articles that are currently being written or reviewed. The fellow also delivered 4 invited lectures and 1 invited talk in Sweden, Spain, and Colombia. Moreover, she participated in 3 conferences with poster and oral presentations.
The fellow supervised a master student whose thesis awarded the departmental recognition at Imperial as the best MSci project in Inorganic Chemistry. The fellow was also Assistant supervisor of the postgraduate students in the NanoHAC group at Imperial and became an associate fellow of the higher education academy.
The fellow participated in 16 customised training and development programmes at Imperial; 4 outreach events promoting public awareness of science; and 6 outreach events promoting gender equality & diversity.
The fellow supervised a master student whose thesis awarded the departmental recognition at Imperial as the best MSci project in Inorganic Chemistry. The fellow was also Assistant supervisor of the postgraduate students in the NanoHAC group at Imperial and became an associate fellow of the higher education academy.
The fellow participated in 16 customised training and development programmes at Imperial; 4 outreach events promoting public awareness of science; and 6 outreach events promoting gender equality & diversity.
MATISSE has pushed the frontiers of SESDs forward in numerous ways. The final chosen system constitutes the first of its kind in the area and opens a pathway to multifunctional hierarchically-structured energy storage systems. Moreover, a small-scale prototype was developed in the laboratory for validation of the chosen system and its applicability as structural energy storage device.