DFG Priority Programme "Polymer-based Batteries" (SPP 2248)

Logo SPP 2248

Image: GMK – Medien. Marken. Kommunikation, www.gmk.de

Important notice

Dear all,

I must address you as a scientist, university lecturer and citizen.

The current situation is very, very serious!

It is up to all of us to make a difference here - without using "Chinese methods".

I ask you to really keep your distance, to practice maximum hygiene, to minimize contacts, to NOT have any corona parties! And also to take and convince all fellow citizens - without maximum control.

Italy had more than 470 dead and 4,200 newly infected persons yesterday, in Germany today there were more than 2,700 newly infected persons. Unfortunately, the number of deaths will now also increase here - and not only among our older fellow citizens.

The exponential increase in the spread must be slowed down as quickly as possible! Every day that we are not consistent enough now will later cost us over a week to contain the infection rates (i.e. still closed daycare centres/schools, shops, possibly quarantine).

Please help EVERYONE to cope with this crisis together in the best possible way.

Sincerely yours,

Ulrich Schubert

Image: FSU Jena / Dr. Martin Hager

Organic materials, in particular organic polymers, which are utilised as active materials in batteries, are currently an intensively investigated research topic. The utilisation of these materials represents an auspicious approach considering

sustainability (e.g., lower temperatures required for the fabrication, no (less) toxic elements / substances used, no heavy metals),
processability (e.g., printable batteries) as well as
battery performance (e.g., power density).

The SPP aims at the elucidation of structure-property-relationships, the design and synthesis of novel active materials, which will result in polymer-based batteries with preferably high capacities and longer lifetime over many cycles.

Therefore, the research will be divided into

modelling for the identification of promising materials,
understanding of the occurring (redox) processes as well as possible side reactions,
the design and synthesis of redox-active polymers,
the development of novel electrolytes,
detailed characterisation in order to shed light on the processes occurring in the composite mixtures that are used as the battery electrodes (particularly by in situ and in operando characterisation techniques).