Start of the DFG priority program on "polymer-based batteries"

Within the framework of this coordinated research programme of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG), new materials for polymer-based batteries are to be researched over the next three years. The programme committee of the SPP consists of Prof. Dr. Birgit Esser (Freiburg), Prof. Dr. Xinliang Feng (Dresden), Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schuhmann (Bochum), Prof. Dr. Patrick Theato (Karlsruhe) and the coordinator Prof. Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert (Jena).

On the one hand, state-of-the-art characterization methods are used to elucidate structure-property-relationships. On the other hand, modelling plays an important role in the identification of promising materials. Thirdly, in addition to the design and synthesis of new active polymeric materials, new carbon materials and new electrolytes are being researched.

Not only the coordination of the priority program is in the hands of the research group around Prof. Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert, but also special research questions will be dealt with in the next three years, e.g. the development of new anode materials together with Jun. Prof. Dr. Doreen Mollenhauer (Giessen). By combining modelling and synthesis/characterisation, promising materials will be identified. With Dr. Tobias Placke and Prof. Dr. Martin Winter (both Münster) new electrolytes as well as polymer active materials for dual ion batteries shall be developed. In the third project with Dr. Petra Uhlmann and PD Dr. Doris Pospiech (both Dresden) the focus is on polymer electrolytes for organic batteries. And in a fourth project, Dr. Christian Friebe and Dr. Stephan Kupfer will work on the research of battery active materials using electrochemical polymerisation as part of an internal university cooperation. Here, too, the combination of laboratory experiments and theoretical modelling should form the basis for the successful development of new materials.