Grant: Alliance Grants

Achieving a carbon-neutral society requires the development of new high-density energy storage technologies to extend the range of batteries used for the electrification of the transport sector and to store the large amounts of clean energy produced from renewable energy sources. In Quebec, an extensive hydroelectric infrastructure provides a sustainable and clean source of electricity for the energy-intensive production of aluminum with a low carbon footprint. In this context, this project aims to produce aluminum-air rechargeable batteries which are a promising next-generation battery technology due to their high energy density, light weight and recyclability. In this project, researchers at Nuvolt, Université Laval and Université du Québec à Montréal will carry out an experimental and computational study (molecular modeling, density functional theory, molecular dynamics) on the electrochemical processes that occur in the different phases and at the interfaces of an aluminum-air battery in order to better understand the transport of aluminum ions through the electrolyte as well as the electrocatalytic reactions occurring at the surface of the electrodes during the charging and discharging cycles. A better understanding of these processes will help Nuvolt in their battery development. The results of this work will lead to the training of highly qualified personnel in advanced functional materials, to the generation of new intellectual property for Nuvolt and ultimately to a new technology that can be manufactured here in Canada using local aluminum suppliers.