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Developing high energy density fast charging lithium sulfur battery

Project description

Powering the future with next-gen batteries

Electric vehicles are central to the EU Green Deal’s push to cut transport emissions, but their widespread adoption hinges on better batteries. Today’s lithium-ion batteries, though dominant, rely on costly metals and face limits in energy density and charging speed. Enter lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries: lighter, cheaper, and capable of packing much more energy. But challenges like slow reactions, unstable anodes, and efficiency loss have stalled their commercial use. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the FASTLISBAT project aims to change that. Building on cutting-edge lab discoveries, the project is developing Li-S batteries that are safe, fast-charging, and capable of storing 500 Wh/kg, far beyond current capabilities. It also supports a young researcher’s career.

Objective

The EU Green Deal Action Plan identifies electric vehicles (EVs) as key to reducing emissions from transportation. Adoption of EVs is closely linked to progress in rechargeable battery technology. While lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries dominate the EV market, there is a need to develop safe batteries that provide high energy density, fast charging, and are free of expensive metals such as Ni/Mn/Co – as outlined in “Battery 2030+” roadmap. Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are promising for beyond Li-ion battery technology because they possess high theoretical specific energy density of 2600 Wh kg-1. This, combined with the fact that Li-S batteries use earth abundant materials with readily available supply chain, makes them the most viable technology for achieving batteries with energy densities exceeding 500 Wh kg-1. The major challenges facing of Li-S batteries that have hindered their commercialization are sluggish reaction kinetics, lithium polysulfide shuttling, and unstable lithium metal anode. The project addresses these challenges and aims to realize practical and safe Li-S batteries with energy densities of 500 Wh kg-1, stable cycling, and fast charging based on recent discoveries by the applicant and the host laboratory. The MSCA-PF in the host group will allow the applicant to make significant research progress and develop soft skills that will significantly enhance the applicant’s career prospects.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Net EU contribution
€ 260 347,92
Address
TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data