Motivation
The amount of fluctuating renewable energies in electrical networks is increasing worldwide, and with it the demand for inexpensive ways of storing energy. One variant is electrochemical storage systems such as stationary batteries to provide decentralized energy reserves. Today’s available systems are mainly lead/acid, lithium-ion, sodium-sulfur and redox flow batteries. Each of these technologies has its specific advantages and disadvantages which affect the storage costs. To reduce costs, therefore, in addition to optimizing existing technologies, alternative types of batteries can be investigated and developed that have the potential for inexpensive and safe energy storage in the future.
Task definition
In close cooperation with the University of New South Wales / Sydney, electrochemical investigations of different types of liquid metal batteries will be carried out. Using an existing experimental setup, the active materials of the batteries will be varied and their properties will be characterized and compared using different methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, polarization curves and charge/discharge tests.
Requirements and general conditions
Degree program chemistry, physics, chemical or physical engineering or comparable.
Start
Immediately
Location
Fraunhofer ICT – Pfinztal/Germany
Remarks
For further information please contact Adj. Assoc. Prof. (UNSW) Jens Noack (Tel.: +49 (721) 4640870. E-mail: Jens.Noack@ict.fraunhofer.de) or Prof. Dr. Karsten Pinkwart (Tel.: +49 (721) 4640322. E-mail: Karsten.Pinkwart@ict.fraunhofer.de)