Miljana Vuksanovic, researcher in the field of Battery Technologies at AIT, won the Audience Poster Award at this year's A3PS conference “Eco-Mobility”, which took place on 14. and 15. November 2024 at Palais Pállfy in Vienna.
In her poster, Vuksanovic presents an innovative approach that uses shellac as a binder for silicon-graphite anodes (Si/Gr anodes). Silicon is a promising material for anodes due to its high energy density, but the large volume expansion during the charging process poses a significant challenge. The use of shellac as a binder is intended to control this expansion and thus improve the mechanical stability of the anode.
In addition, the team is investigating whether shellac's “self-healing” properties could make it a promising material for extending battery life. This property could help to repair cracks or damage caused by the volume expansion of silicon during the charging and discharging process, which would ensure the structural integrity of the anode over numerous cycles. The key challenge is to find the optimal ratio of materials that provides both high mechanical stability and the required electrochemical performance.
At the A3PS conference, participants had the opportunity to choose their favorite from a selection of first-class scientific posters. The award is therefore a special honor for Vuksanovic's innovative approaches and underlines the great importance of her research for future developments in battery technology.
