Breaking Ground in Sustainable Energy Storage: Batteries made from wood waste
Researchers at Aalen University have embarked on a groundbreaking journey towards developing resource-efficient sodium-ion batteries using lignin and hemicellulose extracted from wood waste. This promising endeavor is supported by a substantial one-million-euro grant from the esteemed Carl Zeiss Foundation.
Lithium-ion batteries, ubiquitous in electronic devices and electric vehicles, face challenges due to limited lithium availability and associated environmental concerns. Aalen University‘s researchers are committed to providing a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to address these pressing issues.
The innovative approach relies on sodium-ion batteries, primarily composed of hard carbons derived from the pyrolysis of plant materials like wood waste. The high-temperature breakdown of chemical compounds, conducted largely in the absence of oxygen, ensures a resource-efficient process. However, the variability in wood waste composition has led to fluctuations in the obtained compounds. Aalen researchers are dedicated to resolving this challenge.
In the forthcoming HANa project, Aalen University aims to develop a novel wood pulping process. This process will extract lignin and hemicellulose with defined properties from wood waste, subsequently pyrolyzing them into high-quality hard carbons with minimal variations. The comprehensive project, scheduled to run from 2024, will be led by project manager Volker Knoblauch. The team’s focus spans the entire process chain, encompassing wood pulping, pyrolysis, electrode development, and culminating in the installation and testing of battery cells.
The Carl Zeiss Foundation‘s one-million-euro funding underscores the significance of this research. Project manager Volker Knoblauch expresses his enthusiasm, stating, “It would be a huge step towards sustainable battery storage, and we are delighted to have been awarded the contract by the Carl Zeiss Foundation.” This collaboration represents a pivotal stride towards a greener and more sustainable future in energy storage.
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