Young researchers are fiddling with sustainable batteries of the future

MEET scientists support WWF 2° Campus Student Academy

What role does battery research play in climate protection? Young researchers got to the bottom of this question together with MEET scientists Sven Künne and Jens Wrogemann at the 2° Campus Student Academy at the end of July. Organized by the nature and environmental protection agency WWF, the event unites students and climate researchers to jointly develop innovative ideas and projects to slow down climate change and simultaneously excite the students for research. Among the battery researchers, who focused specifically on the field of mobility, this year's agenda included organic inactive materials.

Live experiments on sustainable binder materials

"The importance of inactive material is quickly underestimated. Binders, for example, can make a significant contribution to the electrochemical performance of the electrode", emphasizes MEET scientist Sven Künne. In order to make the batteries more sustainable, the young researchers have concentrated on the characterisation of binders based on bio-polymers such as chitosan, starch or cellulose, which are also being analysed more in detail in the GrEEn project in cooperation with the Institute of Biology at the WWU. These could replace environmentally harmful, fluorine containing binders, processed with toxic solvents, in the cathode. In their experiments they could find that the change from conventional to sustainable binders is not only possible, but can also lead to higher performances.

picture of a student writing on a whiteboard
© WWF/Arnold Morascher

This was a very special challenge this year, as MEET PhD student Jens Wrogemann explains: "Due to contact restrictions, we could carry out the exchange and show our laboratory work only digitally. Without experience with live broadcasting, we were facing some challenges at the start. Overall, though, this worked very well, the students were intensively involved and participated top motivated and interested from home". To avoid boredom, the MEET scientists offered a varied programme of live experiments, presentations, films and discussions.

Registration for the WWF 2° Campus Student Academy 2021 starts mid-September

The event was not only streamed from the MEET laboratories, but also from the neighbouring MExLab Physik of the WWU Münster. From the experimental laboratory, the young research group from the energy sector dealt with the opportunities and challenges that pico-photovoltaic systems bring to developing and threshold countries for rural energy supply. Such systems have a maximum output of ten watts and can thus be used for basic power supply.

In autumn, the young researchers from all groups will present their learnings during the Student Academy in a large online conference. From 14 September 2020, registration for the WWF 2° Campus Student Academy 2021 will also be possible on the campaign website.