Energy Materials

The Research Department Energy Materials explores electrochemical materials for sustainable energy storage, innovative water technologies, and eco-friendly recycling solutions.

The Research Department Energy Materials develops materials that can effectively transport and store ions and electrical charges across several length scales. We develop materials that can effectively transport and store ions and electrical charges across several length scales o. Important electrode materials are nanoporous carbons, oxides, carbides, and sulfides, and their hybrids. A key feature is our streamlined workflow from material synthesis, comprehensive structural and chemical material characterization, electrochemical benchmarking, and complementary in situ analysis.

A particular focus is on 2D materials, especially MXene and MBene, to enable rapid charge/discharge supercapacitors and next-next-generation sodium- and lithium-ion batteries. The reversible uptake and controlled release of ions also enables the desalination of seawater and ion separation to separate pollutants such as lead or recover valuable materials such as lithium.

We use various characterization methods, including in situ, for a comprehensive mechanistic understanding. In addition, we are increasingly using digital methods for predictive materials research and digital twinning of battery research. Our collaborations include international basic research as well as industrial projects.

Prof. Dr. Volker Presser
Head of Energy Materials

Kontakt

Deputy Group Leader
M.Sc. Jean Gustavo de Andrade Ruthes
Doctoral Student
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-218
Laboratory Safety Officer
M.Sc. Zeyu Fu
Technician
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-368
Secretary
Sylvia de Graaf
Secretary
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-501
Team Members
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Research

Material synthesis

Our team specializes in developing, analyzing, and applying electrochemically active materials and interfaces, focusing on integrating electrochemical activity with electrical conductivity through advanced hybrid materials. We utilize techniques such as sol-gel processes, atomic layer deposition, and electrospinning, supported by comprehensive characterization tools like electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and spectroscopy. We extend our work to in situ and in operando methods to deepen our understanding of these materials. Our expertise encompasses a wide array of materials, including carbon and 2D materials like carbon onions and MXene, as well as diverse metal oxides and conversion materials.

Energy storage

Electrochemical energy storage is at the core of sustainable technologies to store, convert, and recover energy. Our research team explores next-generation electrode materials for Sodium- and Lithium-ion batteries, advanced supercapacitors, and novel hybrid systems. A particular focus is on next-next generation electrode materials, including MXene, high-entropy materials, and nanoscaled hybrid materials. We capitalize on an array of synthesis and characterization methods to employ intercalation, conversion reactions, and alloying reactions for boosting the charge storage capacity and charge/discharge rates. Digitalization, digital twinning, and modelling of energy materials and electrode fabrication complements our research portfolio, including basic research and industrial partnerships.

Water technologies

Energy materials are not just prime candidates for electrochemical energy storage but also are gateways to novel water technologies. Via processes much like for batteries and supercapacitors, that is, redox processes (ion intercalation, alloying and conversion reactions) and ion electrosorption, we can manage the flow of ions. We can selectively immobilize and extract specific ions and drive that process not by high pressure or membrane filtration, but by electrochemical processes and ion selective materials. Our key research activities include general seawater desalination, Lithium-ion extraction, and heavy metal ion removal. Our vision is to have electrochemical processes for an array of elements and compounds for energy-efficient deionization toward circular material use, local elemental harvesting, and pollutant removal.

Publications

Dual-Zinc Electrode Electrochemical Desalination

Dai, Jinhong | Wang, Jian | Hou, Xianhua | Ru, Qiang | He, Qingyu | Srimuk, Pattarachai | Presser, Volker | Chen, Fuming

ChemSusChem , 2020, 13 2792-2798.
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cssc.202000188

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Choosing the right carbon additive is of vital importance for high-performance Sb-based Na-ion batteries

Pfeifer, Kristina | Arnold, Stefanie | Budak, Öznil | Luo, Xianlin | Presser, Volker | Ehrenberg, Helmut | Dsoke, Sonia

Journal of Materials Chemistry A , 2020, 8 (12), 6092-6104.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D0TA00254B

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Ion Structure Transition Enhances Charging Dynamics in Subnanometer Pores

Mo, Tangming | Bi, Sheng | Zhang, Yuan | Presser, Volker | Wang, Xuehang | Gogotsi, Yury | Feng, Guang

ACS Nano , 2020, 14 (2), 2395-2403.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.9b09648

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Comparison of organic electrolytes at various temperatures for 2.8 V–Li-ion hybrid supercapacitors

Shim, Hwirim | Budak, Özil | Haug, V. | Widmaier, M. | Presser, Volker

Electrochimica Acta , 2020, 337 135760.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013468620301523

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Polymer ion-exchange membranes for capacitive deionization of aqueous media with low and high salt concentration

Zhang, Yuan | Srimuk, Pattarachai | Aslan, Mesut | Gallei, Markus | Presser, Volker

Desalination , 2020, 479 114331.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011916419323203

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Permselective ion electrosorption of subnanometer pores at high molar strength enables capacitive deionization of saline water

Bi, Sheng | Zhang, Yuan | Cervini, Luca | Mo, Tangming | Griffin, John M. | Presser, Volker | Feng, Guang

Sustainable Energy & Fuels , 2020, 4 1285-1295.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C9SE00996E

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Electrospun vanadium sulfide / carbon hybrid fibers obtained via one-step thermal sulfidation for use as lithium-ion battery electrodes

Husmann, Samantha | Budak, Öznil | Quade, Antje | Frank, Anna | Kruth, Angela | Scheu, Christina | Tolosa, Aura | Presser, Volker

Journal of Power Sources , 2020, 450 227674_1-11.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378775319316672

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Effect of Pore Size on the Ion Electrosorption and Hydrogen/Deuterium Electrosorption Using Sodium Chloride in H2O and D2O

Zhang, Yuan | Srimuk, Pattarachai | Husmann, Samantha | Chen, Ming | Feng, Guang | Presser, Volker

Journal of The Electrochemical Society , 2019, 166 (16), A4158-A4167.
http://jes.ecsdl.org/content/166/16/A4158.full

Gyroidal Niobium Sulfide/Carbon Hybrid Monoliths for Electrochemical Energy Storage

Fleischmann, Simon | Dörr, Tobias S. | Frank, Anna | Hieke, Stefan W. | Doblas-Jimenez, David | Scheu, Christina | Oliveira, Peter William de | Kraus, Tobias | Presser, Volker

Batteries & Supercaps , 2019, 2 (8), 668-672.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/batt.201900035

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Reversibly compressible and freestanding monolithic carbon spherogels

Salihovic, Miralem | Zickler, Gregor A. | Fritz-Popovski, Gerhard | Ulbricht, Maike | Paris, Oskar | Hüsing, Nicola | Presser, Volker | Elsaesser, Michael S.

Carbon , 2019, 153 189-195.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008622319306621

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