Energy storage devices, supercapacitors, fuel cells, electrolysers and secondary batteries form a crucial part in the transition from fossil fuels to more environmentally friendly energy sources. All of these devices use a continuous sheet separator, typically made of layers of very thin plastic that prove a physical barrier between the two electrodes.
This barrier prevents electronic shorting whilst allowing transport of ions and is vital to device function and performance. Separators also provide secondary functions, typically absorbing impurities and prevent secondary reactions that over time degrade device performance. However, manufacturing of such separators is complex, and modification to introduce secondary functions is complex and time consuming.
When such energy devices are produced, they under-go preconditioning before use. A critical process in this process is the controlled formation of interphase layers on the active material in the electrodes. These layers are critical to performance, and their formation is controlled by addition of additives. Such additives are often only effective on one electrode in the device, causing problems on the other, and thus limiting their use. SEAMLESS will seek to combine controlled release nanoparticles and monodisperse beads to re-envision separators and interphase formation in energy storage devices. Critical R&D challenges to be addressed include, development of control release nanoparticles for controlled additive release on electrode formation and to transfer microbead technology from medical diagnostics to a tailorable, easily modifiable alternative to sheet separator for energy storage devices.
SEAMLESS will move significantly beyond the state of the art, addressing key aspects in controlled release nanoparticles and particle separators for energy device application. The knowledge gained in SEAMLESS will have translational value towards the design wide range of energy storage devices.