Electrolytes for Metal-Organic Multivalent Batteries

Research Project, 2021 – 2024

A leap-frog in battery energy density can be achieved by multivalent metal anodes combined with organic cathodes; a Ca metal anode and a 4 V & 200 mAh/g organic cathode enables 450 Wh/kg while an inorganic lithium-ion battery today is at ca. 200 Wh/kg (275 Wh/kg at cell level). It is also long-term sustainable battery technologies; we completely avoid the problematic Co mining and reduce the cost of both electrode making and cell production.Yet, however, these batteries do not exist outside our labs - much due to lack of suitable electrolytes. For Mg and Al metal batteries special and cumbersome to handle electrolytes are used - none of them practical at larger scale. In addition, both the interface charge and ion transfer as well as the bulk electrolyte migration of multivalent ions are poorly understood.Here we will apply a range of novel electrolyte concepts, study fundamental physico-chemical properties in terms of structure and dynamics, and optimize the most promising electrolytes by electrochemical and battery testing. By ample feedback we will move towards functional multivalent metal-organic batteries. The project is innovative as we will depart from traditional weak and strong electrolytes into the world of highly concentrated electrolytes, ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents. Our experience of these applied to Li/Na batteries is instrumental to enable us to tailor the altered ion transport mechanisms and reach efficient interfacial ion and charge transfer.