Research project corresponding to the call 2023 and reference PID2023-153183OA-I00, for grants for «Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento».

The total battery consumption in the EU is projected to reach nearly 400 GWh in 2025, primarily driven by e-mobility usage, highlighting the need to address sustainability challenges in battery manufacturing to mitigate environmental impacts. These challenges include water pollution, optimization of active material extraction, slurry solution purification, and recovery of valuable components during recycling. NET4BAT aims to tackle these issues by proposing strategies at different stages of the battery manufacturing process.

Current technological solutions based on physicochemical treatments have limitations, mainly related to extensive energy and chemical usage. Electrochemical technologies are considered low-energy and sustainable alternatives, operating at relatively low cell voltages and utilizing green electrons for reactions, thus avoiding the need for additional chemicals. However, inefficiencies arise from using only one half of the electrochemical cell during treatment processes.

The strategy proposed in NET4BAT is to pair electrochemical processes to maximize the use of both sides of the electrochemical cell. This approach enables treating wastewaters while capturing value-added compounds, removing contaminants, separating undesired ions, or producing compounds of interest through conversion reactions.

To achieve this goal, electrodes based on electrochemical energy storage active materials (from batteries and supercapacitors) will be studied and adapted to selected electrochemical applications. Advanced electro-conversion electrodes with high stability will be combined with robust ion/molecule capture materials featuring high ion capture capacity and fast kinetics, integrated into novel electrochemical cell designs.

Partners: IMDEA Energy Institute

Funding Institution/Program: Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities / FEDER-UE / Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2023

Period: September 2024-August 2027

IMDEA Energy Institute external funding: 175.000 €

IP IMDEA Energy: Dr. Julio Lado