2024 Capability Portfolio Digital | Page 86

Clean Energy Capability Portfolio | Storage Technologies

High-Performance

Sodium-Ion
Rechargeable Batteries

The development of sodium-ion rechargeable batteries using complementary technologies that are protected by two patent applications . The advantages of environmentally-friendly , room-temperature , single-step , and controllable processing , result in the high-yield and cost-effective production of battery electrodes . These are high-capacity with rapid charge / discharge , without the use of strategic materials .

Competitive Advantage

• Outstanding energy density ( capacity ) for sodiumion batteries
• Successful outcomes facilitated by continuous research funding from Vecor Technologies

Impact

• Energy – high-performance batteries , low-cost , and readily available raw materials
• Environment – Aqueous-based and low-powerdemand processing using non-toxic materials
• Security – no strategic raw materials
• Economics – 2030 global market revenue is estimated to be A $ 526 billion
• Major funding from Vecor Technologies
• Government – National Science and Research Priority : Advanced Manufacturing
• Industry – contribution to Australian Public Service Net zero 2030

Capabilities and Facilities

• Three dedicated laboratories ( 120 m2 )
• Comprehensive facilities for fabrication ( School of Materials Science and Engineering ), analyses ( UNSW Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre ), and testing ( UNSW-Vecor Laboratories and UNSW School of Chemistry )
• Expertise in processing , analyses , and testing of ceramics , polymers , electrochemistry , and coin-cell battery materials

Our Collaborators

• Vecor Technologies
• RMIT University STEM College
• Deakin University Battery Research and Innovation Hub ( BatTRI-Hub )

More Information

Senior Research Associate & Chief Scientist Dr Sajjad S Mofarah

Successful Applications

School of Materials Science and Engineering
• Patent 1 – new generation of metastable polymers that can be engineered as inorganic compounds for energy storage
• Patent 2 – direct and non-toxic fabrication of highperformance , flexible , and robust electrodes
NEMCAT Group T : + 61 434 423 765 E : s . seifimofarah @ unsw . edu . au
• Both patents leverage unconventional strategies based on simplified electrochemistry

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