GAlBs · Novel porous graphite as cathodes for advanced aluminium-ion batteries
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-05-01 → 2021-04-30
- EU contribution
- €196,591
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Novel porous graphite as cathodes for advanced aluminium-ion batteries
The energy requirement for electric vehicles is anticipated to increase exponentially by 2040 as more that ∼55% of all new car sales are expected to be electric. With the dramatic upturn in EV adoption, the demand for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries will grow substantially and is set to increase at least 14-fold even by 2030. This would necessitate 0.8–1.2 million MT of Li-metal for LIB manufacture. Despite this immense energy requirements for EVs, economically viable lithium reserves for LIB manufacture are naturally limited, with more than 70% of the global deposit concentrated only in a few geographical regions. The concept of exploiting aluminium (Al; a trivalent element) for rechargeable batteries (AlBs) offers the tantalising prospect of high energy density batteries using sustainable materials. However, this battery technology has not yet demonstrated viability due to limitations in component materials, particularly the lack of a suitable cathode that can reversibly cycle Al3+ and/or Al-ion complexes. This project seeks to develop a novel porous graphite materials as cathode for AIB application that will have a chemically tunable-architecture (morphology, pore size and composition) that can be optimized to simultaneously fulfill the basic requirements of an efficient cathode for the advancement of AlB technology. The project synthesizes the cathode materials and then characterize them for morphology and cell properties. Energy storage is essential for all aspects of our society, including the economy and modern living. Therefore, sustainable energy systems must be developed. Current lithium-ion battery technology has reached a capacity limit and depends on geopolitically affected critical raw materials. The objectives of this project include: (1) Synthesis of novel porous graphite cathodes for AlBs with chemically-tunable architecture that can be optimized to allow for reversible intercalation of Al-ion/complexes and maintain high structural stability. (2) Detail characterize/analysis using ex situ techniques (XRD, SEM, TEM, etc) and battery performance. (2) Communicate, disseminate, train and exploit the research results to maximize the benefits for science and society, the lead researcher's career and the research capacity and output profile of the host group
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is expected to rise significantly to ~55% of all new car sales by 2040. This would necessitate ~0.8 million metric tons of Li-metal for standard lithium ion battery (LIB) production. However, a market dominant EV-industry would only have sufficient Li-supply for at most 17 years due to inevitable shortfalls on sustainable-supply of lithium. Aluminium based rechargeable batteries (AlBs) offer tantalising prospect of high energy density batteries using components that can facilitate safe-by-design production of cheaper, durable and sustainable batteries. This battery technology, while having enormous potential as a replacement for LIBs, has not yet demonstrated viability due to critical limitations, primarily the lack of an efficient cathode material that can cycle Al3+ or Al-ion complexes for high energy density and stability. By far, the most plausible cathodes for AlBs are based on graphitic materials. However, present graphitic cathodes are inefficient due to serious design flaws. This project will develop a rapid synthesis protocol to fabricate a very unique graphitic material with unprecedented brain-like morphology and also develop mechanisms to control the intrinsic nanopore architecture. The project will conduct a detailed structural analysis and characterisation of the novel graphitic framework as a cathode for AlBs. This novel graphite holds the key to a significant breakthrough and will advance the development of AlBs by: 1) addressing the issue of poor electrolyte penetration and improve the sluggish reversible ion intercalation to boost rate performance and cycling, 2) improve the weak electronic/electrical conductivity properties of present cathodes, 3) overcome the problematic abrupt cathode disintegrating during cell operation, and 4) unveil the hidden cathode redox chemistry. The ER will emerge from this project with new/advanced skill-set and the capability to launch his own high-level scientific research.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK · LimerickCoordinatorIreland
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union