Energy storage is more important today than at any time in human history states Professor Peter Bruce, FRS Department of Materials, University of Oxford, who will present Energy Storage – Small Solutions to Big Problems.
Energy storage has a vital role to play in storing electricity from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, which are inherently intermittent, and then supplying electricity when needed. It is also essential for the development of electric transport. Few, if any, of the energy storage technologies currently available are fit for purpose, i.e. they do not provide the necessary performance at a suitable cost.
One of the most important and successful energy storage technologies is the rechargeable lithium battery. It has revolutionised portable electronics (iPad, iPhone). The rechargeable lithium battery is the technology of choice for electric vehicles and has an important role in the future electricity grid. Yet the current generation of lithium batteries does not deliver the performance at cost necessary for these new markets.
Advances in lithium battery technology are being made and this will continue. However, a step change in the technology is required. One possible route is the use of nanomaterials. Moving from today’s world of lithium batteries inhabited by materials on the micron scale to those on the nanoscale could radically transform the technology. In particular hierarchical materials, combining multi-length scales may offer exciting prospects. Nanomaterials and in particular multi-line skill materials and their potential role in the rechargeable lithium battery of the future will be discussed.
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