Periodic Reporting for period 2 - POLYSTORAGE (EUROPEAN TRAINING NETWORK IN INNOVATIVE POLYMERS FOR NEXT-GENERATION ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-11-01 bis 2024-10-31
The development of advanced storage technologies represents a major challenge for society and is of great importance to reach the updated Europe 2020 targets, the goals of the Paris agreement (COP21), and the Energy Union policies including the SET-Plan. In the last years, lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) attracted great attention and became the most widespread battery system. However, as LiBs contain toxic metals, e.g. cobalt and nickel, as well as flammable solvents, the development of more environmentally friendly and safer battery technologies represents a priority. Additionally, LiBs are limited when flexibility, low cost, or higher energy density are important. POLYSTORAGE tackles these limitations by developing highly innovative polymer electrolytes and polymer active materials for advanced post-LiBs.
The scientific and technical objectives are:
• Synthesis of innovative polymers including block copolymers and other novel architectures combining dual or triple functionalities
• Investigation of the self-assembly and the supramolecular organisation of the polymers by cutting-edge techniques
• Development of significantly improved polymer electrolytes and polymer active materials for advanced battery technologies
• Integration of the newly developed polymer electrolytes and active materials into advanced polymer-based batteries
• Utilization of polymer electrolytes that incorporate ionic liquids in Na-air batteries
• Utilization of organic redox-active polymers in aluminium batteries
• Realisation of a redox flow batteries (RFBs) optimised for the new polymer-based chemistries
• Upscaling of selected polymer electrolyte systems and integration in lab-scale prototype pouch cells, together with a cost and performance analysis
Hence, the POLYSTORAGE project contributes to the incorporation of renewable energy sources to the European electric grid and the demands arising from massive electrification of transport that rely on the development of new energy storage technologies that fulfil the current environmental, performance, cost, and social requirements for stationary and transportation storage needs.
The scientific and technical objectives are:
• Synthesis of innovative polymers including block copolymers and other novel architectures combining dual or triple functionalities
• Investigation of the self-assembly and the supramolecular organisation of the polymers by cutting-edge techniques
• Development of significantly improved polymer electrolytes and polymer active materials for advanced battery technologies
• Integration of the newly developed polymer electrolytes and active materials into advanced polymer-based batteries
• Utilization of polymer electrolytes that incorporate ionic liquids in Na-air batteries
• Utilization of organic redox-active polymers in aluminium batteries
• Realisation of a redox flow batteries (RFBs) optimised for the new polymer-based chemistries
• Upscaling of selected polymer electrolyte systems and integration in lab-scale prototype pouch cells, together with a cost and performance analysis
Hence, the POLYSTORAGE project contributes to the incorporation of renewable energy sources to the European electric grid and the demands arising from massive electrification of transport that rely on the development of new energy storage technologies that fulfil the current environmental, performance, cost, and social requirements for stationary and transportation storage needs.
The “polymer syntheses” target the preparation of multifunctional block copolymers as polymer electrolytes and active materials.
New synthetic routes for ABA-type block copolymers with soft and hard blocks are were developed. These systems were evaluated as solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with varying compositions of conducting salts, showing good conductivity without sacrificing mechanical properties. Further, multiblock copolymers and mixtures of functional polymers were synthesized, the obtain 3D-nanostructured materials allowed an intimate contact between the redox active polymers and electrically conducting agents or nanostructured SPEs with faster Li-ion transport. Moreover, an electric field responsive liquid crystalline block could be oriented resulting in significantly enhanced ionic conductivity.
Beyond block copolymers, conjugated microporous polymers were synthesized and applied both in conventional and novel Na, Mg, and Al batteries.
The “material characterisation” enabled insights into the structure-property relationships of polymer electrolytes and polymer active materials, e.g. by highly advanced techniques x-ray and electron microscopy with nanometer resolution to elucidate morphology, non-equilibrium structures, and the bulk phase diagram.
Microscopic and scattering characterization methodologies for SPEs based on block copolymers were developed to provide valuable insights for controlling synthesis parameters and benchmarking SPE properties. The findings offer an accurate characterization, emphasizing techniques to study the near-native state and to identify promising polymer materials.
The “energy storage technology” targets the integration of the most promising materials in advanced post-LiBs and all-solid LiB prototypes, such as Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al, hybrid organic batteries, and pRFBs. An assessment of organic electrode materials was implemented, highlighting their potential as low-cost, sustainable, and air-stable energy storage solutions towards real-world applications. Detailed simulations on e.g. cost analysis and experimental validation derived a clear path toward sustainable, low-cost post-LiB technologies.
Additionally, guidelines of future organic polymers were provided to focus on particle size reduction, addition of fillers or structural modifications that facilitate multivalent ion-mobility. At the same time, the limitations in state-of-the-art multivalent electrolytes were identified, mainly redox stability and desolvation of multivalent salts.
Work on SPEs for solid state LiBs revealed the interplay between EO chains and Li salts, and effect of ionic liquid on ion mobility and transport properties. Importantly, the SPEs demonstrated promising performance with high voltage cathodes, highlighting their potential for next-generation lithium metal batteries.
With regard to organic RFBs, a life cycle assessment was compiled including the techno-economics.
The project contributed to the development of safer, more efficient battery systems, pushing the boundaries of current Li batteries and towards the next-generation safe and high density energy storage. The results were disseminated in peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and at international conferences.
New synthetic routes for ABA-type block copolymers with soft and hard blocks are were developed. These systems were evaluated as solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with varying compositions of conducting salts, showing good conductivity without sacrificing mechanical properties. Further, multiblock copolymers and mixtures of functional polymers were synthesized, the obtain 3D-nanostructured materials allowed an intimate contact between the redox active polymers and electrically conducting agents or nanostructured SPEs with faster Li-ion transport. Moreover, an electric field responsive liquid crystalline block could be oriented resulting in significantly enhanced ionic conductivity.
Beyond block copolymers, conjugated microporous polymers were synthesized and applied both in conventional and novel Na, Mg, and Al batteries.
The “material characterisation” enabled insights into the structure-property relationships of polymer electrolytes and polymer active materials, e.g. by highly advanced techniques x-ray and electron microscopy with nanometer resolution to elucidate morphology, non-equilibrium structures, and the bulk phase diagram.
Microscopic and scattering characterization methodologies for SPEs based on block copolymers were developed to provide valuable insights for controlling synthesis parameters and benchmarking SPE properties. The findings offer an accurate characterization, emphasizing techniques to study the near-native state and to identify promising polymer materials.
The “energy storage technology” targets the integration of the most promising materials in advanced post-LiBs and all-solid LiB prototypes, such as Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al, hybrid organic batteries, and pRFBs. An assessment of organic electrode materials was implemented, highlighting their potential as low-cost, sustainable, and air-stable energy storage solutions towards real-world applications. Detailed simulations on e.g. cost analysis and experimental validation derived a clear path toward sustainable, low-cost post-LiB technologies.
Additionally, guidelines of future organic polymers were provided to focus on particle size reduction, addition of fillers or structural modifications that facilitate multivalent ion-mobility. At the same time, the limitations in state-of-the-art multivalent electrolytes were identified, mainly redox stability and desolvation of multivalent salts.
Work on SPEs for solid state LiBs revealed the interplay between EO chains and Li salts, and effect of ionic liquid on ion mobility and transport properties. Importantly, the SPEs demonstrated promising performance with high voltage cathodes, highlighting their potential for next-generation lithium metal batteries.
With regard to organic RFBs, a life cycle assessment was compiled including the techno-economics.
The project contributed to the development of safer, more efficient battery systems, pushing the boundaries of current Li batteries and towards the next-generation safe and high density energy storage. The results were disseminated in peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and at international conferences.
Novel functional (block) polymers were synthesized to combine high ionic conductivity at room temperature, high mechanical and thermal stability, and superior safety to act simultaneously as electrolyte and separator. Novel redox-active polymers are explored to (a) decrease the viscosity for pRFBs and to increase the energy density, (b) explore naturally inspired redox-active polymers, (c) improve the energy and power density of multifunctional copolymers in hybrid organic batteries, and (d) enhance the electric conductivity for composite electrodes in 3D polymer nanostructures.
A understanding of the properties stems from state-of-the-art electron microscopy methods, e.g. by polymer model systems for the exploration of the self-assembly processes for a comprehensive description of the nanomorphology and the macroscopic conductivity.
The polymers are utilized for novel prototypes of: (a) Hybrid organic batteries with high energy density, (b) all-solid-state batteries with enhanced electrode/electrolyte interface with high room-temperature conductivity, (c) Na-air batteries using ionic liquids with high discharge capacity, low overpotential, and high capacity retention, (d) lab-scale pouch cells with high capacities and energy densities, and (e) post-Li metal-organic systems using hybrid organic polymers.
The socio-economic and societal implications of POLYSTORAGE are integral for research and technology to tackle the EU’s energy priorities. The area of polymers for electrochemical energy storage has a very high innovation capacity for renewable electricity, electric vehicles, portable electronics, or medicine. POLYSTORAGE assembles a unique expertise to improve the competitiveness of Europe in this future key technology, to capitalise the European leadership in materials sectors and in electrochemistry, and thus closing the gap on Asia and the USA. POLYSTORAGE offers high-level training of emerging experts in the field in both academic and industrial environments, as well as to reinforce the role and number of women in science and research.
A understanding of the properties stems from state-of-the-art electron microscopy methods, e.g. by polymer model systems for the exploration of the self-assembly processes for a comprehensive description of the nanomorphology and the macroscopic conductivity.
The polymers are utilized for novel prototypes of: (a) Hybrid organic batteries with high energy density, (b) all-solid-state batteries with enhanced electrode/electrolyte interface with high room-temperature conductivity, (c) Na-air batteries using ionic liquids with high discharge capacity, low overpotential, and high capacity retention, (d) lab-scale pouch cells with high capacities and energy densities, and (e) post-Li metal-organic systems using hybrid organic polymers.
The socio-economic and societal implications of POLYSTORAGE are integral for research and technology to tackle the EU’s energy priorities. The area of polymers for electrochemical energy storage has a very high innovation capacity for renewable electricity, electric vehicles, portable electronics, or medicine. POLYSTORAGE assembles a unique expertise to improve the competitiveness of Europe in this future key technology, to capitalise the European leadership in materials sectors and in electrochemistry, and thus closing the gap on Asia and the USA. POLYSTORAGE offers high-level training of emerging experts in the field in both academic and industrial environments, as well as to reinforce the role and number of women in science and research.