Submitted by Vanessa Bismuth on Thu, 18/01/2024 - 10:58
Professor Akshay Rao is the only Cambridge researcher to be awarded an ERC Proof of Concept Grant for turning his groundbreaking battery research into tangible innovation.
Charge Photometry could become an indispensable part of battery research and help accelerate the development of new battery technologies fit for a greener future. Akshay Rao
He is one of the 102 successful frontier researchers to receive the prestigious European funding in this third and last competition rounds for 2023. Worth €150,000, the grant will help Prof. Rao and his group to bridge the gap between the results of their pioneering research on battery material development and the early phases of its commercialisation.
The grant scheme is part of the EU’s research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe.
Battery storage is key for creating a cleaner and more sustainable energy system. Scientists are working hard worldwide to make batteries better, so they can store more energy, charge faster, and last longer.
“To do this, we need to understand how batteries charge and discharge, and what makes them age and wear out,” said Rao, Harding Lecturer in Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory. “With our OptoBAT project, we are developing a new microscopy platform to help accelerate this understanding for both industry and academia.”
OptoBAT is based on the concept of Charge Photometry. This new technology aims at quickly and easily identifying which materials would have the best properties to reduce the effects of aging and capacity loss in batteries.
“Charge Photometry creates a fast feedback loop between designing new materials and checking how well they perform,” said Rao. “We think it could become an indispensable part of battery research and help accelerate the development of new battery technologies fit for a greener future.”
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “It takes courage and skill to take an idea from the lab into the world of business. The Proof of Concept grants announced today are designed to enable researchers to take this brave step and transform groundbreaking research into tangible innovations. I commend these researchers for driving excellence across the European Union and wish them all success in their new ventures."