PoLi-HyB - Post Lithium Hybrid Batteries

Energy storage devices, such as batteries, enable efficient storage of energy from renewable sources, such as solar energy, and provide it on demand. A battery uses an electrochemical reaction to convert chemical energy to electrical energy. It consists of two electrodes and an electrolyte, which is required for the electrochemical reaction to occur. The amount of energy that may be stored in a single battery cell is determined by the chemical elements/compounds employed as electrodes and electrolytes. In this context, the lithium-ion battery is already well- known and established. Lithium or lithium ions have favorable characteristics, due to their size or mass, which leads to promising properties, such as high energy densities, in a battery. However, the amount of lithium that we have available worldwide is limited. Furthermore, mining is typically hazardous to the environment and occasionally dangerous because of lithium`s strong reactivity with other compounds. In addition to lithium, other elements such as sodium or magnesium, which show a higher availability on earth, also show promising properties for the use in a battery. However, compared to lithium, each potential substitute has unique drawbacks, most notably a lower energy density. A so-called "hybrid battery" is a combination of various elements or ions that can be used to achieve high energy densities comparable to lithium-ion batteries while also using safe electrolytes, allowing to prepare safer and more environmentally friendly batteries. For these reasons, the project Post-Lithium Hybrid Batteries aims to analyze batteries that have potential qualities like high energy densities but contain little to no lithium, such as sodium and magnesium. In addition, harmless substances such as water are used as electrolyte to reduce or even prevent harmful side reactions. In order to build this type of battery, it is essential to investigate the chemical elements/compounds utilized as well as their transformations in a battery during the charging and discharging processes. In addition to the selection and production of electrode and electrolyte materials, this study examines alternative combinations in order to establish batteries that are "tailor-made" for their specific application. A deeper knowledge of the mechanism in a hybrid battery can provide new insights in other fields, such as seawater desalination. This process requires the separation of several salts and ions, so understanding how these salts/ions interact with one another is crucial.