23 October 2024

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, the workshop “Sustainable Polymers for Energy Storage” took place at the Politecnico di Torino (Italy). Organized under the guidance of the Communication Committee of the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), the event highlighted the successful outcomes of the SUNRISE project. This initiative involves the Group for Applied Materials and Electrochemistry (GAME Lab), which is dedicated to developing battery materials and cells by utilizing recycled PVB produced by project partners. The workshop was an internal event, primarily aimed at students, researchers, and faculty of the university.

As outlined in the workshop flyer and program, four distinguished experts in the field were invited to share insights on the application of polymers in energy storage devices. Topics included their use as binders in electrodes and as electrolyte membranes, with a focus on innovative strategies to synthesize new materials and formulations from waste or sustainable sources, as well as an industrial perspective on next-generation battery solutions.

The invited speakers and their contributions were as follows:

  • Prof. Dominic Bresser (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Ulm, Germany) presented the latest advancements in single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes for lithium-metal batteries.
  • Prof. Marco Sangermano (Politecnico di Torino) discussed radical-induced photopolymerization as an effective method for processing polymers and creating membranes with tailored properties.
  • Dr. Simone Galliano (University of Torino, Italy) showcased how chemometric techniques can optimize experimental design and analysis.
  • Dr. Matteo Destro (COMAU, Italy) provided an industrial perspective, outlining targets and strategies for manufacturing next-generation batteries, particularly solid-state batteries.

The workshop was chaired by Dr. Hamideh Darjazi (Politecnico di Torino), who opened the event with an introduction to the SUNRISE project, summarizing its objectives and key achievements.

The workshop attracted 24 participants who engaged actively with the speakers, fostering a dynamic discussion on the sustainability of materials used in energy storage and the potential role of polymers in enhancing the safety of these devices.