uu77

Redox flow batteries for sustainable energy

The growing demand for sustainable, efficient, and affordable energy storage is a major societal challenge. Current stationary storage technologies often face issues such as high maintenance, safety risks, and high costs due to limited material availability. Redox flow batteries (RFBs) offer a promising solution, but their adoption is hindered by low energy density.

This research project aims to overcome this bottleneck by developing energy-dense posolyte molecules specifically for RFB applications. A new multimodal measurement platform will provide molecular-level insights to guide the design of durable and efficient RFBs. Moreover, the project will explore innovative iron-based chemistries, utilizing abundant and non-critical materials, to achieve energy densities up to 3 times higher than current vanadium-based RFBs. The project will be carried out within a consortium of three PIs, Dr. Evan Zhao, Prof. Jana Roithova and Prof Arno Kentgens, supported by two industrial partners Bruker and AquaBattery.

Magnetic Resonance Research Center

Evan Wenbo Zhao is Assistant Professor in the Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC), the research group is part of IMM. His group focuses on developing and applying operando NMR methods for studying electrochemical energy storage and conversion chemistries. The facility focuses on the development of novel methods to optimize the sensitivity and information content of NMR spectra and apply these methodologies to gain deeper insight in the structure and dynamics of molecules and materials. Applications are particularly geared at understanding various energy materials and molecules, polymers, electrochemistry, unravelling complex mixtures in the liquid state.

Mapping the Individual Exposure

Occupational exposures have been identified as a significant health risk. When a hazardous gas escapes at a workplace, safety needs to be guaranteed for the workers and the team in action to fix the problem. For this, it is important to know the distribution of the substance at the workplace. In this project we propose a novel and innovative technological approach towards mapping the individual exposure that could have significant societal relevance. The innovation consists of the combination of two technologies: laser-based spectroscopy and imaging methods using infrared cameras generating a 3D map of the multispecies gas concentrations in real time. The consortium is lead by S. Cristescu and includes dr. J. Meurs (TDLab), dr. Michiel de Dood (Leiden University) and 4 cooperation partners (Cosine B.V, ArboUnie, Environmental Service Region Arnhem (ODRA) and Environmental Service Region Nijmegen (ODRN).

Trace Detection Laboratory (TD Lab) 

Simona Cristescu is Associate Professor at IMM, leading the Life Science Trace Detection Laboratory in the Analytical Chemistry & Chemometrics department. Using state-of-the-art laser and photonic technologies, TD Lab designs and develops novel spectroscopy instruments and new methodologies for mass spectrometry and tailors them around various end-user societal needs. The applications cover a broad range: from breath analysis and exposure detection, to process control, environmental monitoring, and food quality control.