UKRI funds University of Nottingham research into lithium-sulfur batteries for transport

The University of Nottingham has secured funding to support research into lithium-sulfur batteries, a type of energy storage that may offer new opportunities for electric transport. The project is among twenty-three new Prosperity Partnerships announced by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The partnerships, supported by £41 million from EPSRC and £56 million from businesses and academic institutions, aim to address key industry challenges. The Nottingham team from the School of Chemistry will work alongside industry partner Gelion plc, led by Adrien Amigues. The research is headed by Professor Darren Walsh.

The lithium-sulfur battery system is regarded as a promising alternative to current lithium-ion technology due to its lighter weight, which may be suitable for cars, aircraft, and ships. However, lithium-sulfur cells tend to degrade more rapidly. The Nottingham team will employ analytical chemistry and electrochemistry to find ways of protecting these batteries from early degradation. Their objective is to develop a lab-scale battery capable of lasting hundreds of charge cycles without losing energy storage capacity.

Professor Walsh stated:
“Lithium-sulfur batteries are among the most promising of the next generation of high-energy battery technologies, but unwanted chemical reactions between the lithium electrodes and cell components limit the lifetimes of these systems.
Our new partnership will yield exciting new techniques for stopping these degradation reactions, pushing the battery lifetimes far beyond that of conventional systems, and accelerating the commercialisation of these high-energy batteries.”

The Prosperity Partnerships scheme, launched in 2017, has now supported 100 projects with a combined investment exceeding £600 million from EPSRC, industry, and research bodies.

EPSRC Executive Chair Professor Charlotte Deane said:
“Our flagship Prosperity Partnerships scheme brings together world-class expertise from businesses and academia to solve big challenges to support the growth of industry and advance UK research.
These 23 ambitious projects present a significant investment in the UK’s future. From speeding up drug manufacturing to longer lasting batteries, these partnerships have the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives and help boost the economy.”

Science Minister Lord Vallance commented:
“These partnerships show the range of real-world challenges the UK’s world-class research base is helping to tackle – from cutting carbon emissions in heavy transport, to improving access to life-saving medicines.
By backing scientists to work hand-in-hand with industry, we’re combining cutting-edge research with business expertise to turn science into practical solutions that can make a difference in people’s daily lives.”

The University of Nottingham’s project will seek to accelerate the commercial readiness of lithium-sulfur batteries to support the UK’s wider efforts in transport electrification.