(Henry B. Linford Award for Distinguished Teaching) The Role of Electrochemistry in Battery R&D

Encouragement and motivation of young talents and students to engage in the mesmerizing field of electrochemistry and in particular in electrochemical energy storage is of outmost prominence to generate sustainability in the battery community that is inevitable to guarantee manpower continuity in one of the biggest global challenges of mankind, i.e. climate change and depletion of fossil fuels. Lithium-based batteries are regarded as key energy storage technology for further breakthroughs in energy transition and mobility transition and related R&D.[1] Limitations in typical electrochemical performance criteria, e.g. energy/power density, fast charge capability and cycle life will likely require even more intense R&D efforts in the future.[2] Electrochemistry is not only the basic principle of battery cell operation, but a reliable and frequently underestimated in situ instrument for monitoring and diagnostics.[3, 4] Alongside with its strong methodological capability, the fundamental principles of electrochemistry for the understanding of practical battery cells will be emphasized in this presentation. Fundamental electrochemical relations like Sand`s law, the Nernst equation, Ohm’s law and the rules of Faraday; and in reverse manner, their mindful use in electrochemical methodology can precisely indicate and forecast processes during battery cell application and thus realize a simple and systematic, but at the same time a very effective and impactful R&D approach.[5,6] Consequently, elucidating the role of electrochemistry in energy storage will build a bridge between (simple) electrochemical fundamentals and the rather complex practical behavior of state-of-the-art and future battery systems, thus serving as topical attraction for young talents to enter into one of the most relevant and fascinating fields of natural sciences and engineering. Reference s : [1] M. Winter, R. J. Brodd Chemical Reviews. 2004, 104, 4245-4269. [2] R. Schmuch, R. Wagner, G. Hörpel, T. Placke, M. Winter Nature Energy. 2018, 3, 267-278. [3] R. Nölle, K. Beltrop, F. Holtstiege, J. Kasnatscheew, T. Placke, M. Winter Materials Today. 2020, 32, 131-146. [4] J. Kasnatscheew, M. Evertz, R. Kloepsch, B. Streipert, R. Wagner, I. Cekic Laskovic, M. Winter Energy Technology. 2017, 5, 1670-1679. [5] L. Stolz, G. Homann, M. Winter, J. Kasnatscheew Materials Today. 2021, 44, 9-14 [6] F..Holtstiege, A. Wilken A, M. Winter M, T. Placke, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017 , 19, 25905-25918