"Free-from": transition metal-free and anode-free potassium batteries

到2050年，能源储存在实现所有温室气体（GHG）净零排放方面发挥着关键作用。国际能源署（IEA）估计，为了支持电力行业的脱碳，还需要310吉瓦的并网电力存储。因此，电池技术正在成为英国能源研究组合的重要组成部分。锂离子电池（LIB）无疑是一个竞争者，正如UKRI对锂离子电池的巨大投资和研究努力所反映的那样。然而，锂离子电池行业对锂和钴需求的巨大份额将在不久的将来导致供应风险，并使英国暴露于外部市场和地缘政治力量；因此，过度关注锂电池的化学性质是不可持续的。可持续脱碳要求立即研究具有冒险精神的电池技术，这些技术将带来巨大的经济和环境回报。该项目旨在开发一种具有冒险精神的电池技术-利用硫硒化学过渡无金属和无阳极钾电池。提出的电池技术是环保的，具有成本效益，因为(i)它不含任何过渡金属（如Co和Ni）或昂贵的金属（如Cu）；它是基于丰富和廉价的元素（K, Al， S和Se）。它在科学上也是令人兴奋和创新的，因为它是无阳极的，这解决了金属阳极电池中大量金属过剩的基本限制，并将提供能量密度的阶梯式改进。此外，S-Se化学将提供高K库存（进一步有助于提高能量密度）和功率密度。此外，拟议的电池技术可以通过以下方式与循环经济的背景相兼容：(i)电池材料的生态影响低，由于没有过渡金属，电池回收程序最小化；（ii）由于没有碱金属阳极，降低了高反应性导致放热氧化的风险。（iii）在电池回收过程中，由于没有铝，降低了分离铝和铜的能耗。因此，这个项目的结果将通过可再生能源的分散发电和可扩展的能源储存和部署，指导一条有前途的可持续脱碳途径。该项目的活动包括：(i)探索电池的无阳极配置；（ii）设计铝集流器的表面修饰，实现稳定的电化学K剥离/镀；（iii）进行原位和非原位表征，以最好地表征、理解和解释通过S-Se阴极化学储存K的电化学过程；（iv）设计一种“透气”的碳基质来设计阴极结构；(v)坐标表面修饰的铝电流收集器和结构工程阴极，以提供演示电池；（vi）与公众接触，倡导可持续脱碳和大胆的能源解决方案。

Energy storage plays a pivotal role in bring all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2050. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that an additional 310 GW of grid-connected electricity storage would be needed to support electricity sector decarbonisation. Thus, battery technology is becoming a prominent slice of energy research portfolio in the UK. Li-ion battery (LIB) has certainly been a contender, as reflected by the enormous UKRI investments and research effort devoted to LIBs. However, the large share of LIB industry on the demand for Li and Co will result in supply risk in near future and expose the UK to external market and geopolitical forces; hence, the heavy focus on Li battery chemistry is not sustainable.Sustainable decarbonisation calls for immediate investigation on adventurous battery technologies that will have large economic and environmental rewards. This project aims at high-risk research on developing an adventurous battery technology - transition metal-free and anode-free potassium batteries using sulphur-selenium chemistry. The proposed battery technology is environmentally friendly and cost-effective because (i) it does not contain any transition metals (such as Co and Ni) or expensive metals (such as Cu); it is based on abundant and cheap elements (K, Al, S and Se). It is also scientifically exciting and innovative because it is anode-free, which solves the fundamental limitation of huge metal excess in metal anode batteries and will deliver a step-change improvement in energy density. In addition, S-Se chemistry will provide high K inventory (further contributing to improving energy density) and power density. Furthermore, the proposed battery technology can be deployed in a manner compatible with the context of circular economy via (i) a low eco-impact of battery materials and the minimization of battery recycling procedure due to the absence of transition metals, (ii) reducing the risk of a high reactivity leading to exothermal oxidation due to the absence of an alkali metal anode, and (iii) lowering energy consumption to separate Al and Cu during battery recycling due to the absence of Al. Therefore, the outcome of this project will direct a promising avenue of sustainable decarbonisation via decentralised electricity generation by renewablesources and scalable energy storage and deployment.The activities included in the project are: (i) explore an anode-free configuration of battery cells; (ii) design surface modification of Al current collector to achieve stable electrochemical K stripping/plating; (iii) perform in-situ and ex-situ characterisations to best characterise, understand and explain the electrochemical process of storing K via S-Se cathode chemistry; (iv) design a "breathable" carbon host to engineer cathode architecture; (v) coordinate surface-modified Al current collector and architecturally engineered cathode to deliver a demonstrator cell; (vi) engage with the public and be an advocate for sustainable decarbonisation and adventurous energy solutions.