Polymers, oligomers and molecules for clean energy storage

Abstract

The intermittent nature of solar and wind energy has made it difficult to fully integrate these energy sources into electrical power grids and distribution networks. Among the most promising large-scale electrochemical energy storage technologies are sodium-ion and redox-flow batteries coupled with electrochemical supercapacitors to control the electrical load leveling.

In this seminar, I will propose the use of low cost and environmentally friendly polymers, oligomers and molecules as electroactive species in sodium-ion and flow batteries as well as in electrochemical supercapacitors. Organic dyes such as indigo carmine that could operate in a safe aqueous based symmetric redox flow battery at neutral or close to neutral pH and polymer-based organic electrodes containing Schiff-base or quinone functionalities for sustainable batteries and supercapacitors will be presented. As a starting Ramon y Cajal fellow at the ICTP (Polymer Nanocomposites group), I will also introduce my research plan for the next five years which it will be based on making possible an innovative (next) generation of low-cost and sustainable polymer-based electroactive nanomaterials that provide affordable, clean energy for everyone on the planet for generations to come.

About Javier Carretero-González:

During the last years Javier have being involved on the preparation of advanced electrode materials that can meet the need for low-cost, intermittent electrical energy storage in renewable energy sources as well as for transportation applications. His research work have been mostly devoted to the synthesis, structural and electrochemical characterization of electrode and electrolyte materials like redox-active oligomers and polymers for sodium ion batteries and asymmetric capacitors; low-dimensional crystalline nanocarbons (graphene, carbon nanotubes and graphitic nanowiggles) and nanoporous carbons for symmetric double-layer capacitors and metal-air batteries; as well as organic salts and ionic liquids for advanced solid (polymer) and liquid electrolytes for magnesium-ion and redox-flow batteries.

See more information on about Javier in the following link:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Javier_Gonzalez34