Environmental assessment and conductivity performance of calcium-based polymer electrolytes for the next generation of solid-state batteries Articles uri icon

publication date

  • January 2025

start page

  • 144710-1

end page

  • 144710-10

volume

  • 489

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0959-6526

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1879-1786

abstract

  • This study presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of calcium-based polymer electrolytes, aiming to
    advance sustainable solid-state post-lithium battery technologies. Despite calcium-based solid-state batteries
    offer safer and more reliable energy storage alternatives, research into their environmental and electrochemical
    performance remains limited compared to lithium-ion systems. In this work, three polymer electrolytes, based on
    a cross-linked polymer backbone doped with calcium salts (Ca (TFSI)2, Ca(CF3SO3)2, and CaI2), are studied
    through LCA and characterized in terms of electrochemical and thermal properties. Notably, it is observed that
    the salts exhibit a significantly higher contribution to environmental impacts compared to the polymer. The LCA
    identifies CaI2 as the most environmentally favorable, with climate change emissions of 8.01⋅10􀀀 5 kg CO2
    equivalent, particulate matter disease incidence of 3.12⋅10􀀀 12 cases per kg PM2.5, and negligible ozone depletion
    impacts (1.27⋅10􀀀 6 kg CFC11 eq). Although Ca (TFSI)2 shows higher ozone depletion impact (2.68⋅10􀀀 4 kg
    CFC11 eq) it demonstrates superior ionic conductivity, achieving 0.09 mS⋅cm􀀀 1 at 20 ◦C and 0.4 mS⋅cm􀀀 1 at
    90 ◦C. Moreover, differential scanning calorimetry confirms the fully amorphous structure of all electrolytes,
    with glass transition temperatures ranging from 􀀀 19.61 ◦C (Ca (TFSI)₂) to 􀀀 38.7 ◦C (CaI₂), which ionic conductivity
    at room temperature. These findings highlight a critical trade-off between environmental impact and electrochemical performance, providing actionable insights for the design of safer, more sustainable energy storage systems.

subjects

  • Chemistry
  • Environment
  • Materials science and engineering

keywords

  • life cycle assessment (lca); post-lithium batteries; calcium battery; polymer electrolytes; solid-state calcium battery