Electrolyte matrix materials for structural battery composites

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Structural battery composites are a class of electrochemical energy storage materials that have the additional functionality of being able to carry a mechanical load. This allows them to be used as structural components in electrified transport applications, where their multifunctionality provides the potential for significant mass savings when they are used instead of conventional lithium-ion batteries. Structural battery composites are comprised of carbon fibre-based electrodes in a matrix material, which acts as the electrolyte. This matrix must have high stiffness, to transfer mechanical loads between the carbon fibres, and it must also have high lithium ion conductivity, to facilitate lithium ion transport between the electrodes. One of the major factors preventing the commercialisation of structural battery composites is the lack of a solvent-free matrix material that has these desired properties.The aim of this project is to develop matrix materials with desirable properties for structural battery composite applications. Desirable properties include: high stiffness, high lithium ion conductivity and a solvent-free system. Part of the focus of this project will be on improving the stiffness and lithium ion conductivity properties of current state-of-the-art matrix materials, which are not solvent-free. This will be achieved by investigating the effect of material selection and battery cycling on the interface between the matrix and the carbon fibre anode. The other part of this project will focus on developing a solvent-free matrix material. This will involve the development of new assembly strategies and battery architectures that facilitate the use of solvent-free matrix materials with good stiffness and lithium ion conductivity.Increasing the energy density of electrochemical energy storage devices is critical to accelerating the uptake of electrified transport and transitioning away from fossil-based fuels. Structural battery composites offer an enticing pathway to achieving this, however, a full structural battery cell has not yet been developed. The lack of both a suitable matrix material and a process for incorporating it into a full cell is one of the main reasons for this, and therefore the work carried out here will provide valuable steps towards the milestone of constructing a full cell. This research is also relevant to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council since it fits in with the energy storage research area.