New trends in energy storage materials

Speaker: Professor Claudio Gerbaldi, Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Electrochemical energy storage devices are the most conventional technology for storing electricity. Their operation during charge and discharge is due to electrochemical oxidation-reduction reactions. The always increasing role of smart technology in modern society requires the development of advanced energy storage systems, which can be used in portable electronic devices. This includes electric and hybrid/electric vehicles and in large stationary storage systems. In this scenario, lithium-ion batteries represent the mostly efficient and widespread exploited technology at present. However, especially for applications where safety and low cost are essential requirements, alternative technologies such as sodium-ion batteries and/or alternative post-Li systems, such as lithium sulfur batteries, are being intensively investigated.

This seminar will provide an overview of the recent developments of the Group for Applied Materials and Electrochemistry – GAME Lab at Politecnico di Torino regarding the development of high energy density nanostructured electrode materials and, in particular, highly ionic conductive crosslinked polymer electrolytes with wide electrochemical stability, mechanical properties for safe and aging resistant lithium- and/or sodium-based cells. 

Claudio Gerbaldi received his PhD in Material Science and Technology in 2006 at the Politecnico di Torino. He is an Associate Professor of Fundamentals of Chemical Technology at the Politecnico di Torino. He is the leader of the Group for Applied Materials and Electrochemistry (GAME-Lab) at the Department of Applied Science and Technology – DISAT. He has 15-years’ experience on electrochemical energy storage (mainly, Li-/Na-based batteries) and conversion (mainly, dye-sensitized solar cells and perovskites) devices with specific focus on the development of advanced polymer electrolyte membranes by light-induced and thermal polymerisation techniques, as well as bio-inspired nanostructured electrode materials by sustainable water-based production techniques. He has around 117 scientific research articles published in international ISI journals (average I.F. > 5) with >850 annual citation counts in recent years (>2900 total citations) and h-index 31. Among others, he has received the Piontelli Award for outstanding results in Electrochemistry from the President of the Italian Republic (2015) and the ‘‘UniCredit Award’’ for the Young Innovation in Research (2007).

Part of the Graphene CDT Advanced Technology lectures