Aqueous Polymer Hybrid Batteries

The project Aqueous Polymer Hybrid Batteries for Future Sustainable Energy Storage proposes three innovative solutions for developing the next generation of rechargeable batteries. Two French (ICMPE and CEA) and one Australian (Flinders University) institutes will work together to achieve this goal through three objectives: (i) replacing metallic cathodes with organic radical polymers (ORPs) to minimize the reliance on critical and strategic metals such as lithium and cobalt; (ii) switching from organic to aqueous electrolytes to eliminate toxic and flammable solvents, imparting battery production and operation with high safety; and (iii) employing abundant and environmentally safe materials such as zinc, magnesium, and calcium to mitigate resource scarcity and address economic and ecological challenges in energy storage. The team will reveal the storage mechanism of these novel hybrid batteries and optimize their performance using advanced techniques. Prototype polymer/hybrid batteries (100 mAh, 1.2-1.5V) will be produced by the Consortium, expecting to pave the way for the next generation of eco-friendly energy storage solutions and replace millions of small energy devices currently dominated by lithium-ion batteries



Partners: Flinders University, ICMPE, CEA research and innovation centre