Cheap and easily processable electrode/electrolytes for next-generation sodium-ion batteries

Electrochemical energy storage is of increasing importance to allow large-scale integration of intermittent renewable sources. State-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries suffer from relevant problems, including strategic materials supply (e.g., Li, Co), high environmental impact, high cost, low safety. Cheaper and safer batteries based on sodium-ion chemistry can answer to these issues. In this work, we demonstrate how we aim at developing new materials for next-generation, highly performing and sustainable, all-solid-state, secondary Na-ion batteries. We will explore the entire value chain, starting from the development of carbonaceous electrodes obtained by pyrolysis of biosourced waste to the development of advanced, polymeric electrolytes, also including computationally-assisted investigation of electrode/electrolyte materials and their “green” fabrication and assembly/testing in lab-scale cells.