At the prestigious Societa Chimica Italiana (SCI) National Congress, held during August 26-30, 2024, in Italy, Professor Manthiram from the University of Texas at Austin took center stage to deliver a plenary talk on "Elements of Future for Sustainable Energy Storage."
The event drew a crowd of nearly 2,400 attendees, including leaders and experts from various scientific and engineering disciplines.
In his lecture, Professor Manthiram addressed the critical challenges facing the energy storage industry in the context of global sustainability efforts. He emphasized the need for cost-effective, safe, and environmentally friendly energy storage solutions to support the rapidly expanding markets for renewable energy and electric transportation.
The talk centered on the limitations of current lithium-ion batteries, particularly their reliance on scarce and costly materials, such as cobalt and nickel. Manthiram called for a transition toward battery chemistries that utilize more abundant elements, including iron, manganese, sulfur, and sodium, to build sustainable storage technologies. He presented ongoing research into cobalt-free and nickel-free lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and alternatives, such as lithium-sulfur and sodium-sulfur systems.
While the potential of these next-generation technologies is significant, Professor Manth0iram highlighted the formidable scientific and technological challenges that must be overcome. These include improving the stability of materials, resolving electrode-electrolyte interface issues, and enhancing energy density. Throughout the presentation, he underscored the importance of advanced characterization methods in driving breakthroughs in these areas.
His address was widely regarded as a visionary roadmap for the future of energy storage, outlining clear steps for how the chemistry and materials science communities can address supply chain bottlenecks and meet the demands of a clean energy future.
The SCI Congress provided an ideal platform for this important discussion, as Professor Manthiram's insights resonated deeply with the global push for greener and more sustainable energy systems.
