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NANO2021-Nanoteknologi og nye materiale

Advanced Manufacturing of Zn electrodes for Rechargeable Zn-air Batteries (AMAZE)

Alternative title: Avansert produksjon av Zn-elektroder for oppladbare Zn-air-batterier

Awarded: NOK 4.3 mill.

The zinc-air battery is a semi-open battery that breathes in the air and produces electricity through the reaction of oxygen from the air with water and zinc metal. The battery is environmentally friendly as it consumes oxygen from the air, which is available for free. With the nature of using oxygen from the air as the active material, the battery can store a significantly large amount of energy (3-4 times the state-of-the-art Li ion battery) and be made small and light. The zinc-air battery is made of low-cost materials, safe, less toxic, and well-suited for stationary energy storage through coupling with solar or wind farms. The combined advantages on performance, sustainability, and costs make the zinc-air battery a potential candidate for the subsequent generation energy storage. Nevertheless, some of the biggest challenges of zinc-air batteries are the insufficient consumption of zinc at the anode and degradation of air electrode during charge-discharge cycles resulting in lower electricity production over time. In the AMAZE project, the joint effort from academia (IZTECH, Turkey), a research institute (SINTEF, Norway), and industry/SME (EASYL, France) aim to contribute to the development of the next generation of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) with long operation time with a minimal loss in the performance. While SINTEF and EASYL will work on the anode to improve zinc utilization and increase the zinc storage capacity by manufacturing porous zinc structures through 3-D printing, IZTECH will produce air electrodes for the battery to work at high currents with a smaller electrode size. The goal of the project is to demonstrate a high-performance zinc-air battery cycled for at least three months.

In the AMAZE project the joint effort from academia (IZTECH, Turkey), a research institute (SINTEF, Norway), and industry/SME (EASYL, France) aim to contribute to the development of the next generation of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Through a multidisciplinary approach, the project will provide innovative solutions to this technology while addressing one of the most critical challenges in the energy domain: energy storage and sustainable energy management. Through AMAZE the partners will develop, from TRL 2-3, scalable and techno-economically viable methods for the manufacturing of porous Zn electrodes for high Zn utilization, excellent electrochemical performance, and cycling stability and in parallel develop novel, carbon-free bifunctional air electrodes (BAEs). Through a two-pronged approach, and by applying 3D printing for the copper current collectors, AMAZE will deliver a new generation of thick porous Zn electrodes with an optimal pore structure for high performance and extended cycle life through better Zn utilization, electrochemical stability, and structural stability. The two methods selected for Zn electrodes manufacturing have a high potential for upscaling, which is vital for industry-scale production of ZABs. An environmental and life cycle costing analysis of the two approaches will be made to create a viable plan for future developments.

Funding scheme:

NANO2021-Nanoteknologi og nye materiale