HyNIB

This research group focuses on the topic of "Novel Hybrid Solid Electrolytes for Sodium Ion Batteries (Hy-NIB)".

The expertise of four different research groups in the fields of sodium ion batteries (AG Adelhelm), polymers for battery applications (AG Schubert), ion-conductive ceramics (AG Stelter, via connection Fraunhofer IKTS Hermsdorf) as well as non-crystalline materials and materials synthesis (AG Wondraczek) is addressed.

The primary goal is the preparation and characterization of sodium ion-conducting hybrid solid electrolytes, which are based on a composite consisting of a polymer matrix with a dispersed ceramic phase and are intended for use up to 65 °C. The hybrid approach is intended to offer the advantages of a polymer matrix with a dispersed ceramic phase. The hybrid approach is intended to combine the advantages of polymeric and ceramic solid electrolytes while circumventing current difficulties of the individual systems.

Purely ceramic electrolytes exhibit high conductivities, but have so far been difficult to process due to their brittleness. Due to their insufficient conductivity, purely polymeric electrolytes cannot yet be used at room temperature. What both have in common, however, is a higher degree of operational reliability compared to conventional liquid electrolytes.

The focus on sodium ion batteries also opens up a still very new field of research. Possible advantages over lithium ion technology, which has already been studied in much greater detail, lie in the much better availability of the element (price), the lower ion field strength (lower polarization of the chemical environment), the presence of ceramic solid electrolytes with particularly favorable overall properties (beta-aluminate, Nasicon), and the better formability of the metal.

In terms of application, the use of sodium ion batteries is particularly interesting for stationary energy storage systems with high storage density.