Melhoria do desempenho, segurança e estabilidade das baterias de ião de lítio com recurso ao aperfeiçoamento de materiais e interfaces

The project directly targets some of the most pressing issues in the Li-ion batteries field, which are crucial for a wide range of applications as safety, longevity and stability. Innovation will take place across various levels, incorporating new advanced electrodes and solid polymer electrolyte compositions (thermal shutdown, TS, and self-healing, SH, polymers as poly(3-dodecylthiophene) and poly(acrylic acid), respectively), optimizing interfaces between battery components (deposition/coating techniques) and refining cell designs (experimental/simulation studies as changing thicknesses and interface properties). Through the development of such batteries, with real-time SH and TS properties, challenges as battery degradation (ageing processes/loss of performance), instable dendrite grow, thermal instability, crack formation, interface incompatibility and thermal runaway will be faced. The project is ambitious and aims to push the boundaries of what's currently possible in battery technology, including the materials development that can operate more efficiently and safely than those currently used. Approaches as plasma surface treatment and high ion conductive (>10^-4S.cm-1) interfacial polymer layers (polymer composites with fillers as Clay-Montmorillonite and ionic liquids as [PMPyr][TFSI]) will be developed for both sensing battery components. More specifically, methods as addition of dynamic carbon radicals and polymers containing functional groups will be explored for self-healing components. Further, responsive thermal materials(~70oC) and phase transition fillers (as phase change materials) will be used to TS battery components. Project not only focuses on individual materials but also on how they interact within the battery system. This suggests an interdisciplinary team effort integrating insights from materials science, chemical and physics sciences. The project also aims to develop technologies that are not merely incremental improvements but represent significant leaps forward in terms of energy density, charging speed, safety and longevity. Detailed simulations will allow to analyse the interfaces between different battery components, optimize the charge/discharge processes and enhance efficiency, prolonging battery life and provide insights into how to enhance ion transport and reduce unwanted reactions. Also, thermal behaviour module will be used to predict how a battery might respond to temperature changes, helping in designing safer batteries. Through a prototype and upscaling process, the project aims to ensure that the new materials and interface improvements function as expected in real-world conditions. Integrating prototype development with upscaling considerations alongside with life cycle analysis considerations into the project can significantly enhance the feasibility, environmental sustainability and market readiness of the innovations in Li-ion battery. It ensures that the project's outcomes are not only scientific and technical advanced but also practically implementable and aligned with broader environmental and sustainability goals. The proposed project is structured to address key challenges in the field of Li-ion batteries by employing ambitious and innovative strategies that extend beyond the current state of the art. The project's success could lead to transformative changes in battery technology, with broad implications for energy storage, electronics, vehicles and renewable energy integration.