Crossing Boundaries in Energy Storage

Energy storage is more important today than at any other time in history. Approx. 25% of CO2 emissions arise from burning fossil fuels in transportation. It is widely acknowledged that decarbonising transport is imperative and involves electrification.The greatest challenge facing electrification of transport is energy storage. Although electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) will be with us in increasing numbers over the next decade, achieving a step change in driving range (e.g. the often stated Holy Grail of +300 miles) is impossible with the storage technologies available now and in the near term (lithium-ion batteries). Here we propose to investigate energy storage technologies far beyond the current horizon and with the potential to deliver a step change in performance of electric vehicles. We focus in particular on the Li-air battery, hydrogen and oxygen storage, in line with the scope of the call. These technologies fit into an overall vision for future hybrid EVs in which the Li-air battery, the hydrogen fuel cell (or perhaps ammonia fuel cell) and the reversible fuel cell (effectively a hydrogen-oxygen battery) play key roles. The Li-air battery has the potential to store far more energy than current generation lithium batteries but major hurdles remain to be overcome. Here we address some of the key hurdles facing a step change of Li-air batteries, opening the way to practical Li-air batteries in the longer term capable of a much extended driving range and available at lower cost than today and hence transforming transportation.Similarly we address the key challenge of hydrogen storage by a concerted series of approaches to identify the solid state stores that meet the criteria for a transformation in the mobile storage of hydrogen for transport. We also examine the radical concept of solid state oxygen storage using transition metal and peroxo compounds. Such stores would find applications as sources and sinks of O for the cathode in a Li-air cell or for a reversible fuel cell. By working together we break down the traditional boundaries between these research fields, enable the cross-fertilisation of ideas that may lead to innovative solutions to the problems of each field and train personnel in a culture of working across these boundaries.

There is considerable potential for non-academic impact across a wide range of sectors, private, public and societal, and for the training of personnel. Our research is high risk / high gain, if successful it could contribute in the longer term to a radial advance in battery technology and hydrogen storage. Such advances would transform transport, making possible electric vehicles capable of driving ranges beyond 300miles and thus addressing a major hurdle to the adoption of EV's namely range anxiety. Significant impact would be seen in the automotive industry and its component suppliers, the battery and fuel cells industries, and energy materials manufacturers. A step change in energy storage and the enabling of extended range EV's would have major impact on public bodies, including government agencies and othe stake holders such as the Carbon Trust, UKERC, RSC, Royal Society, Royal Society Edinburgh, TSB. All these bodies are heavily engaged with the energy sector and their awareness of breakthroughs in energy storage would be important is setting the policy/strategy agenda. For example, the possibility of EV's with a greatly extended range could influence government policy towards support for the UK transport and component industries. Considering societal impact, the realisation of EV's with the driving range of today's gasoline vehicles but with ultra low CO2 emissions would impact on almost everyone. Of course all this depends on the outcome of the research which by definition cannot be predicted but the proposal has in principle the potential for major impact as described. The applicants have collectively over 100 years experience of research on energy storage and as a result extensive networks with cognate industries and public bodies. We are members of 4 SUPERGEN consortia. We have a track record of engagement with and supplying evidence to public bodies, Government, Learned Societies, etc. Through these pathways we shall disseminate our research ensuring its impact. We will continue to hold open meetings inviting sake holders in the energy and transport sectors to disseminate out research and its implications. We have already established mechanisms via SUPERGEN, e.g. web sites, with email alerts to relevant stake holders. We are regularly invited to attend policy orientated meetings setting the energy agenda, her and abroad, e.g. DoE in the USA. Some of us are members of ALISTORE, (the EU network on Lithium batteries) providing a conduit (6 monthly meetings take place) for dissemination across Europe to battery and transport industries. We are frequent invited speakers at major meetings nationally and internationally and in our field these arew attended by industry and public bodies, as well as academics. By all these mechanisms we will ensure our research has exposure and impact beyond academia. There is a paucity of personnel trained in energy,our trained PhD's and PDRA's will be in high demand by industry and public bodies.