Projects / Programmes
Al‒organic polymer rechargeable batteries
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.04.01 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Materials science and technology |
Inorganic nonmetallic materials |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P401 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Electrochemistry |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.05 |
Engineering and Technology |
Materials engineering |
Al batteries, organic polymer, cathode, nanostructurization, study of mechanism, spectroscopy, stationary energy storage
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
35377 |
PhD Jan Bitenc |
Materials science and technology |
Head |
2019 - 2021 |
0 |
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0104 |
National Institute of Chemistry |
Ljubljana |
5051592000 |
10 |
Abstract
Electrical energy storage is one of the biggest scientific and technological challenges of the 21st century. Different battery systems are a solution for this challenge, but increased use of battery systems raises concerns about the sustainability of the battery materials. Sustainable batteries could be based on Al anode, which is cheap and abundant metal. Current research has successfully demonstrated AlCl3 -graphite batteries. The fact that AlCl4‒ anions are intercalated instead of Al cations means that this system is limited by the amount of the electrolyte, which contains AlCl3. Literature reports show that intercalation of Al cations into inorganic structures is extremely difficult. Thus, the project proposes use of organic cathode materials instead of the inorganic ones. However, organic materials suffer from rapid capacity due to dissolution of organics into the electrolyte. Thus, we propose preparation of polymers through polycondensation and direct cross-coupling. To achieve good capacity utilization of polymer cathode materials two approaches will be taken. Firstly, Al electrolytes will be modified with addition of different solvents. Secondly, polymers will be nanostructurized through introduction of conductive carbons (carbon nanotubes, graphene type materials…) into the cathode composites. Inclusion of conductive carbons should additionally improve the rate capability of the cathodes. Second objective of the project will be study of the electrochemical mechanism on the cathode side. Electrochemical mechanism of polymers will be studied through application of operando ATR-IR spectroscopy, which enables visualization of IR active changes in the organic cathode materials. Nature of the Al species involved in charge/discharge mechanism on the cathode will be studied through ex-situ solid state 27Al NMR and operando Raman spectroscopy. Combination of the good electrochemical performance and determined electrochemical mechanism will open a new field of the research on Al batteries and set the foundations for continuation of the successful scientific career of the postdoctoral researcher.
Significance for science
Project Al?organic polymer rechargeable batteries will develop battery based on sustainable materials, which is of utmost importance for next generations of batteries. Current state-of-the-art Al batteries are based on graphite cathode, but in graphite cathode AlCl4? is intercalated between graphite sheets instead of Al cations. This means that such batteries are limited by the amount of AlCl3, which is one of the components of the electrolyte. Due to difficult intercalation of Al cations inside the inorganic cathode, we will instead use organic cathodes, more specifically, organic polymer cathodes to prevent capacity fade due to dissolution of organic materials into electrolyte. We will optimize the capacity utilization of the cathode through cathode nanostructurization and Al electrolyte optimization. Nanostructurized cathode composites will give us Al?organic polymer battery with improved power and energy density. After demonstration of organic polymer cathode we will explain the electrochemical mechanism through operando ATR-IR and Raman spectroscopy and ex-situ solid state 27Al NMR. Good electrochemical performance coupled with the explained battery mechanism of cathode operation will open a new field of Al battery research and allow us to publish our findings in high ranking journals. Explained mechanism will also help us to determine future commercial viability of Al?organic battery, which would be based on sustainable and abundant materials. Commercialization of such Al-organic battery system would be possible even Slovenia. We already have large Al producer (Talum) and could easily develop capacities for organic cathode material preparation.
Significance for the country
Project Al?organic polymer rechargeable batteries will develop battery based on sustainable materials, which is of utmost importance for next generations of batteries. Current state-of-the-art Al batteries are based on graphite cathode, but in graphite cathode AlCl4? is intercalated between graphite sheets instead of Al cations. This means that such batteries are limited by the amount of AlCl3, which is one of the components of the electrolyte. Due to difficult intercalation of Al cations inside the inorganic cathode, we will instead use organic cathodes, more specifically, organic polymer cathodes to prevent capacity fade due to dissolution of organic materials into electrolyte. We will optimize the capacity utilization of the cathode through cathode nanostructurization and Al electrolyte optimization. Nanostructurized cathode composites will give us Al?organic polymer battery with improved power and energy density. After demonstration of organic polymer cathode we will explain the electrochemical mechanism through operando ATR-IR and Raman spectroscopy and ex-situ solid state 27Al NMR. Good electrochemical performance coupled with the explained battery mechanism of cathode operation will open a new field of Al battery research and allow us to publish our findings in high ranking journals. Explained mechanism will also help us to determine future commercial viability of Al?organic battery, which would be based on sustainable and abundant materials. Commercialization of such Al-organic battery system would be possible even Slovenia. We already have large Al producer (Talum) and could easily develop capacities for organic cathode material preparation.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
