Fast rechargeable zinc-polymer battery

PolyZion

Project
The PolyZion project will create a new class of fast rechargeable zinc-polymer batteries for hybrid and small electric vehicle applications. The research program combines fundamental material and process advances in ionic liquids, rechargeable zinc electrodes, ultra-fast pulse charge injection techniques, and conducting polymers, with the construction of prototype battery units for industry standard testing.

Benefits
The resulting battery device will be low cost and will have a low environmental impact. It will also possess the energy and power density necessary to compete with alternative battery technologies in the HEV and EV markets.

Innovations
The PolyZion cell will deliver the following key innovations
> Ionic liquid electrolyte will eliminate hydrogen gas evolution due to the absence of water and greater electrochemical potential stability range (wider cathodic window)
> In combination with ionic liquid formulation, ultra-fast pulse charging techniques will be used to control and manipulate the morphology of the zinc nanocrystallites, thereby avoiding dendritic growth and build-up of large zinc crystallites during operational cycling
> Incorporation of a conducting polymer electrode to complete the cell will increase the overall power output of a practical cell by removing the need for a membrane separator between the two halves of the cell. In addition, the lightweight polymer material will improve the power/energy density (i.e. power-to-weight ratio)

PolyZion is a European-led consortium that combines world-class research organizations specializing in ionic liquids, conducting polymers, zinc deposition, pulse charging and batteries, as well as partners with expertise in technology development and specialized materials, and large industrial partners with and large industrial partners with state-of-theart testing facilities and experience in battery manufacturing. The consortium also includes two organizations with world-class research expertise, which are outside the European Union: one from Russia, an emerging economy, and one from Canada, a high-income country.

Project coordinator
> C-Tech Innovation, United Kingdom

Project partners
> C-Tech Innovation Ltd, United Kingdom
> University of Leicester, United Kingdom
> CIDETEC, Spain
> Cegasa, Spain
> Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Portugal
> KEMA, the Netherlands
> Irkutsk Institute of Chemistry, Russia
> Hydro-Québec, Canada
> RESCOLL, France

Project details
> Seventh Framework Program
> Duration: August 2009 – July 2012