Batteries and fuel cells

Renewable energy sources gradually replace fossil energy carriers in electricity production and mobility segments. This is the only meaningful strategy to meet the CO₂ targets mentioned in the Paris climate agreement and achieve the German “Energiewende”. As a consequence, electrochemical energy systems such as batteries, redox-flow, fuel and electrolysis cells will play a key role as short/long-term buffers for electricity production peaks and grid stabilization, more especially in regions without any hydroelectric-pumped and cavern energy storage stations. In that context, further use of hydrogen in combination with carbon dioxide is an attractive concept for production of chemicals, plastics and synthetic fuels via syngas step (P2X). Because of scarcity of the lithium, cobalt, platinum and iridium resources and huge growth of the accumulator-powered device market, new innovative systems have to be developed beside established Li-ion, lead-acid and NiMH technologies.
The electrochemistry, high-temperature materials and chemical technology groups are developing sustainable technologies. Most relevant topics related to energy storage/conversion systems focus on:

• Degradation and state-of-charge monitoring of flow batteries a well as new electrolytes and concepts
• Corrosion-resistant materials for solar tower plants and high-temperature SOFC/SOEC
• Catalyst and electrode materials for batteries (Zn/air, Al-ion & Zn-ion), fuel cells (PEMFC) and HT co-electrolysis.