Current lithium-ion batteries face challenges related to safety, environmental impact, and recyclability. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) offer a promising alternative due to sodium’s abundance and lower environmental footprint. However, SIBs lag behind in development. The Galileo project aims to address this gap by designing fluorine-free, recyclable polymer electrolytes for SIBs, enabling safer and more sustainable energy storage solutions.
SINTEF plays a central role in Galileo by developing fluorine-free polymers and sodium salts for next-generation battery components. These materials are designed to be safe, scalable, and recyclable, and are produced from abundant resources without ethical or environmental concerns. Through advanced laboratory testing, battery assembly, and postmortem analysis, SINTEF ensures that the materials meet high-performance and sustainability standards. The project also includes the development of recycling methods, enabling “recyclable by design” solutions. The knowledge generated will support both the battery and recycling industries, contribute to new educational content at NTNU, and guide future research in Na-ion batteries and metal recovery technologies.
The Galileo project is a collaborative effort between SINTEF and NTNU, bringing together leading experts in polymer chemistry, battery technology, and biotechnology. It includes one PhD candidate and several MSc students, and is supported by a total budget of NOK 12 million. Additionally, Mihail-Dumitru Barboiu from the Institut Européen des Membranes (CNRS) contributes his expertise in the development of porous organic framework (POF) materials, strengthening the project's interdisciplinary approach.
