Claudio Gerbaldi

• Polytechnic University of Turin

Lithium batteries have gained significant attention due to their high energy density, specific capacity, operating voltage, slow self-discharge rate, good cycle stability, and rapid charging capabilities. However, the use of liquid electrolytes presents several safety hazards. Solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) offer a promising alternative to...

Hard carbon (HC) has significant potential as anode material for both Li‐ion and Na‐ion batteries; however, its commercialization is hindered by challenges such as poor rate capability and low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE). Although polymeric binders constitute a small fraction of the overall electrode composition, they play a crucial role in...

Acid-assisted hydrothermal carbonisation of vine shoots, followed by annealing, yields tailored hard carbon anodes for Na-ion batteries. Diglyme-based electrolytes improved capacity, efficiency, and stability, showcasing sustainable energy solutions.

Herein, we propose eco-friendly electrolytes based on sodium chloride as a hydrogen bond acceptor and glycerol as a hydrogen bond donor, as alternatives to toxic, flammable and unsustainable electrolytes commonly...

Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer, commonly used as an interlayer material in laminated safety glass for the automotive and architectural sectors. Currently, there is no end-of-life cycle program for a substantial amount of PVB film, which mainly ends up in landfills. According to a circular approach, PVB can be re...

Poly(ethylene oxide)—(PEO-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are regarded as excellent candidates for solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) due to their inherent safety advantages, processability, low cost, and excellent Li+ ion solvation. However, they suffer from limited oxidation stability (up to 4 V vs Li⁺/Li). In this study, a cros...

The thermodynamically unstable interface between metallic lithium and electrolyte poses a major problem for the massive commercialization of Li-metal batteries. In this study, we propose the use of a multicomponent protective coating based on cellulose modified with dimethylthexylsilyl group (TDMSC), single-ion conducting polymer P(LiMTFSI), and Li...

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have emerged as promising candidates for solid-state lithium metal batteries (LMBs) due to their inherent safety advantages and potential to facilitate high energy density devices [1]. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) has been the most prominent representative polymer host in SPEs since 1970s because of their excellent a...

The choice of ionic-liquid-like monomers (ILM) for single-ion conducting polyelectrolytes (SICPs) is crucial for the performance of all-solid-state lithium batteries. In the current study, we propose a novel approach for development of SICPs via design and synthesis of a new ILM with long poly(ethylene oxide) spacer between methacrylic group and (t...

Liquid electrolytes are currently state-of-the-art for commercial Li-ion batteries. However, their use implicates inherent challenges, including safety concerns associated with flammability, limited thermal stability, and susceptibility to dendrite formation on the lithium metal anode, that can compromise the battery lifespan. Solid-state polymer e...

In this work, sustainable Li‐based battery separators are prepared starting from a waste material from the glass industry, viz. polyvinyl butyral (PVB) widely used as a sacrificial interlayer in high impact‐resistant windows. First, polymeric membranes are prepared via the phase‐inversion method using commercial PVB as the backbone and 4,4′‐methyle...

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are among the most promising materials for solid-state lithium metal batteries (LMBs) due to their inherent safety advantages; however, they suffer from insufficient room-temperature ionic conductivity (up to 10–6 S cm–1) and limited oxidation stability (<4 V). In this study, a nove...

PEO-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are regarded as excellent candidates for solid-state lithium metal batteries (LMBs) due to their inherent safety advantages, processability, low cost and excellent Li ion solvation. However, they suffer from limited oxidation stability (up to 4 V vs. Li+/Li). In this study, a newly designed crosslinked po...

This work aims to study a protective coating based on cellulose and P(LiMTFSI) single-ion conductor polymer and its effects on Li metal anode stability and reversibility. The strategy used involves the physical mixture of the aforementioned polymers to enhance the electrochemical performance through Li-ion flux homogenization at the Li metal surfac...

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are one of the most promising materials for solid-state lithium metal batteries (LMBs) due to their inherent safety advantages, however, they suffer from insufficient room temperature ionic conductivity (up to 10−6 S cm−1) and limited oxidation stability (< 4V). In this study, a nov...

Modern technologies that can replace state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries (LIBs), such as Na-ion batteries (NIBs), are currently driving new advancements in energy storage research. Developing functional active materials having sustainable features and enhanced performances able to assess their exploitation in the large-scale market represents a major...

Sodium‐ion batteries (NIBs) have recently garnered significant interest in being employed alongside conventional lithium‐ion batteries, particularly in applications where cost and sustainability are particularly relevant. The rapid progress in NIBs will undoubtedly expedite the commercialization process. In this regard, tailoring and designing elec...

Dye-sensitized solar cells assembled with aqueous electrolytes are emerging as a sustainable photovoltaic technology suitable for safe indoor and portable electronics use. While the scientific community is exploring unconventional materials for preparing electrodes and electrolytes, this work presents the first study on zinc oxide as a semiconducto...

In this study, we prepare ionogels composed of bisphenol A ethoxylate dimethacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ionic liquids via rapid, scalable, solvent-free UV-induc...

The development of Li-ion conducting solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) is crucial to achieve increased energy density, operative reliability, and unprecedented safety to replace the state-of-the-art Li-ion battery (LIB). In this regard, we here present the successful melt-casting synthesis of a MgO-added NASICON-type LAGP glass-ceramic electrolyte wi...

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) aim to overcome safety issues, decrease package volume, and increase the energy density of next-generation energy storage devices, such as Li-ion and post-lithium batteries. Among different types of SSEs, the ionogel (or ion gel) systems, in which polymer electrolytes are doped with room-temperature ionic liquids (RT...

Currently the main application of lithium ion batteries is in portable electronics, but new emerging applications such as electric cars require lower cost, improved cycle life, sustainability, safety and energy density. The ambition of Si-DRIVE European project is proposing next-generation batteries for electric cars built in Europe, designed to en...

Li metal batteries are regarded as a promising system to overcome the energy density limitations of the current graphite anode Li-ion batteries, by taking advantage of the low reduction potential of lithium metal (-3.04 V vs SHE) and extremely high theoretical capacity (3860 mAh g ⁻¹ ). However, its use is still plagued with challenges that must be...

Liquid electrolytes used in commercial Li-ion batteries are generally based on toxic volatile and flammable organic carbonate solvents, thus raising safety concerns in case of thermal runaway. The most striking solution at present is to switch on all solid-state designs exploiting polymer materials, films, ceramics, low-volatile, green additives, e...

Hybrid solid polymer electrolytes (HSPE) comprising poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), LiTFSI, barium titanate (BaTiO3), and viologen are prepared by a facile hot press. The physical properties of the HSPE membranes are studied by using small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile...

This study aims at disclosing the effect of small temperature drops (10–15 °C) of the electrolyte on Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis (CGDE). In our experiments, we measure the temperature change of electrolyte and electrode as well as the change in current following on from the addition of, first, frozen and, second, boiling KOH aqueous solutio...

Silicon is amongst the most attractive anode materials for Li-ion batteries because of its high gravimetric and volumetric capacity; importantly, it is also abundant and cheap, thus sustainable. For a widespread practical deployment of Si-based electrodes, research efforts must focus on significant breakthroughs to addressing the major challenges r...

The incorporation of heteroatoms improves CO2 adsorption on carbon-based materials, but it can also provide some hydrophilic character to the bare-carbon frameworks, making the hypothesis of competitive CO2/H2O adsorption not negligible. In this respect, the CO2 capture is here evaluated through a deep characterization of the sorption properties of...

text In this work, a thorough electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) study is performed of both liquid and polymeric aqueous dye-sensitised solar cells (a-DSSCs), which are also compared with conventional organic solvent-based devices. The main purpose is unveiling phenomena limiting the efficiency of water-based photovoltaics. Indeed, EIS sp...

Nowadays, face masks play an essential role in limiting coronavirus diffusion. However, their disposable nature represents a relevant environmental issue. In this work, we propose the utilization of two types of disposed (waste) face masks to prepare hard carbons (biochar) by pyrolytic conversion in mild conditions. Moreover, we evaluated the appli...

Single-ion conducting polyelectrolytes (SICPs) with mobile Li cation have recently gathered significant attention as an “ideal” electrolyte for safe solid-state rechargeable lithium batteries, because they eliminate salt concentration gradients and concentration overpotentials, allowing transference number (tLi+) values close to unity. In this work...

Carbon capture is amongst the key emerging technologies for the mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHG) pollution. Several materials as adsorbents for CO2 and other gases are being developed, which often involve using complex and expensive fabrication techniques. In this work, we suggest a sound, easy and cheap route for the production of nitrogen-dop...

Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are the ubiquitous technology to power portable electronics; however, for the next-generation of high-performing electrochemical energy storage systems for electric vehicles and smart grid facilities, breakthroughs are needed, particularly in the development of solid-state electrolytes, which may allow for enhanced energy de...

D-glucosamine is investigated as non-toxic and sustainable carbon/nitrogen source for the templated synthesis of nitrogen-containing CMK-8 ordered mesoporous carbons (NOMCs) conceived for selective CO2 uptake. Pyrolysis temperature is varied during nanocasting using KIT-6 silica hard template to tailor microporosity and nitrogen inclusions. NOMCs e...

Safety and high-voltage operation are key metrics for advanced, solid-state energy storage devices to power low- or zero-emission HEV or EV vehicles. In this study, we propose the modification of single-ion conducting polyelectrolytes by designing novel block copolymers, which combine one block responsible for high ionic conductivity and the second...

Aqueous Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells In article number 2000823, Federico Bella, Matteo Bonomo, and co-workers have successfully applied Design of Experiment to engineer the composition of the electrolyte in quasi-solid aqueous DSSCs that leads to photoconversion efficiency approaching 5% and remarkable stability. Aqueous dye-sensitized solar cells ar...

Na-ion batteries are emerging as convenient energy-storage devices for large-scale applications. Enhanced energy density and cycling stability are key in the optimization of functional cathode materials such as P2-type layered transition metal oxides. High operating voltage can be achieved by enabling anionic reactions, but irreversibility of O2–/O...

In the quest for a sustainable society, energy storage technology is destined to play a central role in the future energy landscape. Breakthroughs in materials and methods involving sustainable resources are crucial to protect humankind from the most serious consequences of climate change. Rechargeable batteries of all forms will be required to fol...

text. Aqueous dye‐sensitized solar cells are emerging as a promising alternative to enhance both the lifetime and environmental friendliness of traditional DSSCs. In this article, we report a cobalt‐based, jellified (with xanthan gum) aqueous electrolyte, leading to a valuable efficiency exceeding 4% (VOC = 847 mV, JSC = 6.73 mA cm–2, FF = 74%). De...

In this study, self-standing and flexible Li-ion battery negative electrodes made of interconnected two-dimensional carbonized cotton fibers are developed by using a controlled pyrolysis method, and their electrochemical performance in laboratory-scale lithium-based cells is investigated at ambient temperature. By applying this binder- and current...

We perform electric double-layer gating experiments on thin films of niobium nitride. Thanks to a cross-linked polymer electrolyte system of improved efficiency, we induce surface charge densities as high as $\approx 2.8 \times 10^{15}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}$ in the active channel of the devices. We report a reversible modulation of the superconducting...

The recycling of CO2 back into chemicals via photo-electrochemical cells represents a viable route to mitigate the global climate crisis of current days. In this paper we focus on the copper-iron delafossite oxide, CuFeO2, which has been proven to have suitable physico-chemical properties to photo-catalyze the carbon dioxide reduction to formic aci...

Protic ionic liquid–based crosslinked polymer electrolytes may enable next generation low‐cost, all‐solid‐state Li‐metal batteries and electric double layer capacitors providing high energy/power density to be used in safe traction energy storage systems operating in a broad temperature range. More details can be found in article number 2000742 by...

The Cover Feature shows a modern building powered by aqueous solar cells, placed both indoors and outdoors. Transparency, colors, and safety: new ingredients for hybrid photovoltaics. The cover is designed by Barth van Rossum. More information can be found in the Full Paper by L. Fagiolari et al.

Whereas the commercialization of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is finally proceeding taking advantage of their low cost and tunable optical features, such as colour and transparency for both indoor and building‐integrated applications, the corresponding aqueous counterpart is still at its infancy. As the TiO2 electrode is a fundamental compone...

Herein, the preparation of an innovative crosslinked polymer electrolyte (PEO_HPyr) encompassing protic ionic liquids (PILs) displaying high ionic conductivity, wide thermal, and electrochemical stability is reported, thus suitable for use in safe energy storage devices. The first example of an all‐solid‐state electrochemical double layer capacitor...

Graphene is a new generation material, which finds potential and practical applications in a vast range of research areas. It has unrivalled characteristics, chiefly in terms of electronic conductivity, mechanical robustness and large surface area, which allow the attainment of outstanding performances in the material science field. Some unneglecta...

Several new compounds, with desirable properties of ion mobility and working voltage, have been recently proposed using a density functional theory (DFT) computational approach as potential electrode materials for beyond-lithium battery systems. After evaluation of the ‘energy above hull’, thiospinel MgCr2S4 has been suggested as interesting multiv...

Understanding the transport of sodium ion in ionic liquids is key to design novel electrolyte materials for sodium-ion batteries. In this work, we combine molecular dynamics simulation and experiments to study how molecular interactions and local ordering affect relevant physico-chemical properties. Ionic transport and local solvation environments...

The investigation of innovative electrolytes based on nontoxic and nonflammable solvents is an up-to-date, intriguing challenge to push forward the environmental sustainability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Water is one of the best choices, thus 100% aqueous electrolytes are proposed in this work, which are gelled with xanthan gum. This we...

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), as emerging photovoltaic technology, have been thoroughly and extensively investigated in the last three decades. Since their first appearance in 1991, DSSCs have gained increasing attention and have been classified as feasible alternatives to conventional photovoltaic devices due to their numerous advantages, su...

A binder-free electrode made of polycrystalline carbon-coated silicon nanoparticles encapsulated in few-layer graphene flakes is coupled with a PEO-based crosslinked bilayer polymer electrolyte (BLPE). A soft polymer electrolyte layer enriched with a pyrrolidium-based ionic liquid (Pyr14TFSI) is deposited on top of the electrode and UV cured by an...

Na-ion batteries (NIBs) are attracting widespread interest as a potentially more convenient alternative to current state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries (LIBs), chiefly for large-scale energy storage from renewables. Developing novel active materials is essential for the deployment of NIBs, especially in terms of negative electrodes that can accommodat...

Sodium‐ion technology is a reliable alternative to lithium‐ion for large‐scale energy storage because of the abundance of sodium sources and low cost. In this work we report about a simple fabrication of self‐standing electrodes based on electrospun carbon nanofiber (CNF) loaded with Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 with NASICON framework, which is a promising c...

Lithium Metal Batteries (LMB) require solid or quasi-solid electrolytes able to block dendrites formation during cell cycling. Polymer-in-ceramic nanocomposites with the ceramic fraction exceeding the one normally used as the filler (>10 ÷ 15 wt%) are among the most interesting options on the table. Here, we report on a new hybrid material encompas...

The need to recycle waste products, convert and reuse them for different high-value applications is a very up-to-date, utmost important topic. In this context, here we propose glycidol, a high-value product isolated from epichlorohydrin industry waste, as a starting material for the preparation of two poly(glycidol)s polymer matrices with a chemica...

A green, efficient and stable solar cell based only on water and safe and cheap elements of the periodic table is proposed in this work, finally consolidating (also from a sustainability viewpoint) the concept of “artificial photosynthesis” studied for decades by the scientific community. The concept of dye-sensitized solar cells is re-proposed her...

Here, we report hybrid solid polymer electrolytes (HSPE) obtained by rapid, truly solvent-free, thus scalable preparation process. HSPE composition is very simple: a LiTFSI added poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer matrix encompassing NASICON-type Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 (LAGP) super Li⁺ ion conducting ceramic. Homogeneous, self-standing, mechanically...

We report a thorough, multi-technique investigation of structure and transport properties of a UV crosslinked polymer electrolyte based on poly(ethylene oxide) PEO, tetra(ethylene glycol)dimethyl ether (G4) and lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI). The properties of the crosslinked polymer electrolyte are compared with a non-crosslinke...

In the global competition for ultimate electrochemical energy storage systems, the international tendency of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) is to consider more and more the solid state technology as a solution that could replace the current Li-ion battery operating with liquid electrolytes. The reason is the need of enhanced energy density...

Superconductivity (SC) in the Ba-122 family of iron-based compounds can be controlled by aliovalent or isovalent substitutions, applied external pressure, and strain, the combined effects of which are sometimes studied within the same sample. Most often, the result is limited to a shift of the SC dome to different doping values. In a few cases, the...

Increasing the photocurrent is one of the main objectives of the current research on aqueous photovoltaic cells, the emerging green, alternative technology in solar energy conversion devices. In such a scenario, this work deals with the thorough understanding of the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical effects of the TiCl 4 treatment onto TiO 2...

We report an innovative crosslinked composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) based on the garnet-type ceramic super Li+-ion conductor, Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) that is encompassed in a super-soft poly(ethylene oxide)/tetraglyme matrix. UV-induced, facile and solvent-free crosslinking process ensures flexible and self-standing CPEs, which are non-flammable an...

In this work, we report novel room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL)-based electrolytes to be used with high-energy cathode, lithium-rich nickel manganese cobalt oxide (Li[Li0.2Mn0.56Ni0.16Co0.08]O2, LiR-NMC) in Li-ion batteries. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of the newly developed materials are thoroughly detailed, also by means o...

In article number 1802438, Freddy Kleitz, Claudio Gerbaldi and co‐workers report a new anode material for high‐performing and long‐lasting Li‐ion batteries, which is built from an innovative 2D/3D nanostructure design. The active material consists of exfoliated graphene‐wrapped mesoporous mixed metal oxide microspheres, obtained through a simple sp...

In article number 1802438, Freddy Kleitz, Claudio Gerbaldi and co‐workers report a new anode material for high‐performing and long‐lasting Li‐ion batteries, which is built from an innovative 2D/3D nanostructure design. The active material consists of exfoliated graphene‐wrapped mesoporous mixed metal oxide microspheres, obtained through a simple sp...

Exfoliated graphene‐wrapped mesoporous Cu‐Ni oxide (CNO) nanocast composites are developed using a straightforward nanostructure engineering strategy. The synergistic effect of hierarchical mesoporous CNO nanobuilding blocks that are homogeneously wrapped by graphene nanosheets (GNSs) using a rapid spray drying technique effectively preserves the e...

Superconductivity (SC) in the Ba-122 family of iron-based compounds can be controlled by aliovalent or isovalent substitutions, applied external pressure, and strain, whose combined effects are sometimes studied within the same sample. Most often, the result is limited to a shift of the SC dome to different doping values. In a few cases, the maximu...

In this paper a novel polymer-based platform is applied for the fabrication of an innovative two-electrodes self-powered device integrating energy harvesting and storage sections. A multifunctional polymeric layer, made of two poly(ethylene glycol)-based sections separated by a perfluorinated barrier, is obtained by oxygen-inhibited UV-light crossl...

Caesium‐doping has recently been identified as the way to improve stability, reproducibility and spectral properties of perovskite solar cells, both in the hybrid and inorganic forms. The scientific community is investigating the key correlation between the doping level, the variation of crystallographic parameters and the effects on the spectral a...

Photoinitiating systems play a key role in the starting point of a polymerization reaction under exposure to a UV or a visible light. The number of publications discussing photoinitiating systems for polymerization has seen a significant growth in recent years and this book provides an update on their latest research developments. The book covers d...

The rational design of single-ion polymer electrolytes emerges as a primary strategy for enhancing the performance of lithium ion batteries. With the aim to increase ionic conductivity, four novel ionic liquid monomers were designed and synthesized in high purity. Such monomers differ from the previously reported systems by (1) the presence of a lo...

In the challenging scenario of anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, TiO2 nanotubes could represent a winning choice in terms of cost, scalability of the preparation procedure, and long-term stability upon reversible operation in electrochemical cells. In this work, a detailed physicochemical, computational, and electrochemical characterization...

If opportunely developed and optimized, aqueous dye-sensitized solar cells can be considered a truly low impact photovoltaic device, with no toxic components. Here we report the use of design of experiments as a useful chemometric technique for the concurrent investigation of a series of experimental factors that directly influence the proper opera...