SPACER is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network funded by Horizon Europe. It develops high-power-density porous electrodes for redox flow batteries, built from hierarchical, multi-layer materials whose pore structure is optimised for electrolyte and electric flow.
The targets are a power density of about 1 A cm⁻² and an energy efficiency above 85–90 % at relevant current densities, 20–30 % better than conventional electrodes, at up to 50 % lower electrode cost. The work covers established vanadium and next-generation hydrogen–bromine flow batteries.
Approach
- Multiscale modelling to identify the pore and electrode structures that give optimal electrolyte and electric flow.
- Prototyping of the modelled structures by stereolithography, 3D printing and textile techniques.
- Advanced characterisation, including EPR imaging, to validate the models and electrode performance.
- Validation in mini-stacks at industrial partner Pinflow, at technology readiness level 6.
Pinflow's Role
Pinflow is one of the network's beneficiaries and leads Work Package 6 – Validation, Evaluation & Demonstration, the stage where the network's electrodes are tested in real cells and stacks. Pinflow is also a member of the network's Industrial Board.
Pinflow hosts doctoral candidate Bronston Policard Benetho. His project, "Fast characterisation and demonstration of optimised electrodes", develops a cell assembly for rapid electrode screening and CFD models of electrolyte flow, and ends with demonstrations of full batteries with optimised electrodes. Read more about Bronston's research.
Consortium
The network is coordinated by Fraunhofer ICT in Germany. It brings together 12 beneficiaries and 9 associated partners, universities and companies from Europe, the USA and Australia, and trains 17 doctoral candidates. Learn more at rfb-spacer.eu.