The goal of the current thesis, which represents a significant collaborative effort between four institutions and universities (Italian Institute of Technology, University of Genoa, CA' Foscari University of Venice, and Hasselt University), is to summarize the most recent findings in the area of sustainable secondary batteries by utilizing various waste biomass through a specific carbonization treatment, or a waste-to-energy action. Since it is generally known that the components of conventional secondary batteries have an adverse effect on the environment, research on eco-friendly alternatives are both extremely desirable and necessary. In this respect, our work aims to make a significant advancement in this area, bringing us one step closer to practical lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with minimal environmental impact. Herein, we have tackled the sustainable batteries problem by breaking it down in its main parts, namely what kind of bio resources materials to exploit and their treatment to make them suitable to run as battery anode. Our materials choice was motivated by the desire to secondary use of waste biomass, would surely be beneficial both from an environmental and economical point of views. In line with the philosophy of a reduced environmental impact, the engineering of biochar was based on steam and CO2 activations, neither of them recognized as dangerous procedures. Additionally, for preparing fully sustainable and environmentally friendly LIBs anodes, deionized water and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) have been used as alternatives to toxic/teratogen N-methyl-2- pyrrolidone (NMP) and to biologically hazardous Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), respectively. Furthermore, going towards reduced cost, we have employed water solvent and flouride-free bio-derived CMC binders. Indeed, to provide a scenario as complete as possible, the results achieved for half-cell batteries were also confirmed in a full battery configuration where LiFePO4 (LFP), and sulfur cathodes were used, the latter being particularly attractive in the emerging field of sulfur-based batteries. All in all, we believe that the combination of these actions goes in the direction of the 2030 goal of having green LIBs at 100 $ /kW h-1. Last but not least, we have also provided a detailed comparison in terms of performance, where we highlight how our results outperform anything reported to date, with the intention of giving a general picture of the state-of-the-art in this field and with the desire for precise positioning of our results.

Engineering of waste Biomass-based active materials for application in current Lithium-ion Batteries and Beyond

SALIMI NADEM, PEJMAN
2023-03-28

Abstract

The goal of the current thesis, which represents a significant collaborative effort between four institutions and universities (Italian Institute of Technology, University of Genoa, CA' Foscari University of Venice, and Hasselt University), is to summarize the most recent findings in the area of sustainable secondary batteries by utilizing various waste biomass through a specific carbonization treatment, or a waste-to-energy action. Since it is generally known that the components of conventional secondary batteries have an adverse effect on the environment, research on eco-friendly alternatives are both extremely desirable and necessary. In this respect, our work aims to make a significant advancement in this area, bringing us one step closer to practical lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with minimal environmental impact. Herein, we have tackled the sustainable batteries problem by breaking it down in its main parts, namely what kind of bio resources materials to exploit and their treatment to make them suitable to run as battery anode. Our materials choice was motivated by the desire to secondary use of waste biomass, would surely be beneficial both from an environmental and economical point of views. In line with the philosophy of a reduced environmental impact, the engineering of biochar was based on steam and CO2 activations, neither of them recognized as dangerous procedures. Additionally, for preparing fully sustainable and environmentally friendly LIBs anodes, deionized water and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) have been used as alternatives to toxic/teratogen N-methyl-2- pyrrolidone (NMP) and to biologically hazardous Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), respectively. Furthermore, going towards reduced cost, we have employed water solvent and flouride-free bio-derived CMC binders. Indeed, to provide a scenario as complete as possible, the results achieved for half-cell batteries were also confirmed in a full battery configuration where LiFePO4 (LFP), and sulfur cathodes were used, the latter being particularly attractive in the emerging field of sulfur-based batteries. All in all, we believe that the combination of these actions goes in the direction of the 2030 goal of having green LIBs at 100 $ /kW h-1. Last but not least, we have also provided a detailed comparison in terms of performance, where we highlight how our results outperform anything reported to date, with the intention of giving a general picture of the state-of-the-art in this field and with the desire for precise positioning of our results.
28-mar-2023
Sustainability, Li-ion battery, Bio-based anodes, High-efficient, Next-generation batteries
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11567/1109911
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