I am happy to announce that our work has been published in Journal of Electronalytical Chemistry!

 

Performing the research stay at the University of Southampton as planned in the project (little by little overcoming the callenges posted by the pandemic)!

The experiments are focused on how to achieve more uniform potential/current distributions with electrodes with controlled number of carbon filaments created with embroidery. I'm very grateful to Prof. Dr. Carlos Ponce de León and the team at Southampton! Thank you for the warm welcome and all the support!

Within the framework of the project Embroider-Power funded by ELIIT (https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/eliit_en), we have developed a large-format redox flow battery prototype for the characterization of embroidered electrodes of large dimensions (15 cm in width and 20 cm in length). The design rules for high-performance electrodes have been determined within the framework of the EmbelRed project. A publication is in progress!

In the link below you can find a short video about our large-format cells with embroidered electrodes!

https://fileshare.uibk.ac.at/f/194d6e5708cd407a8b55/

Construction of the large redox flow battery ELIIT prototype for the embroidered electrodes. The large prototype will demonstrate the capability of the embroidered electrodes investigated in the Hertha-Firnberg EmbelRed project. Step by Step!

From left to right: Thomas Drozdzik and Noemí Aguiló Aguayo.

The FFG-project ConCoTex starts! We aim to develop a process that will enable the minituarization of conductive particles in textiles without sacrificing their comfort and stretchable properties. The corsortium is formed by 2 resesarch partners, the Research Institute of Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics of the University of Innsbruck and the Fachhochschule Vorarlberg, two large enterprises Wolford and Adresys, and 3 small enterprises Drexel Embroidery, Mehrrath Textiletiketten, and Insomnia Scheffknecht Peitler.

ConCoTex has synergies with EmbelRed since both deal with the conductivity of textile structures in challenging environments.

Lange Nacht der Forschung is today! Please enjoy our videos!

Station: Wie können Textilien Batterien helfen?

https://youtu.be/S0mXfd49gZk

Station: Wie werden Textilien verkupfert?

https://youtu.be/Jy5edaSzNQE

Station: Wie beeinflusst die Oberflächenstruktur eines Stoffes unsere Farbwahrnehmung und was steckt dahinter?

https://youtu.be/k-jxxD9b9pQ  

The ELIIT project EMBROIDER-POWER starts! The project has the aim to create a large redox flow battery prototype with embroidered electrodes! a stack up to 30 cells with a geometric area of 15 x 20 cm² should be ready by February 2022.

The COIN project ConCoTex - Microsized Conductive lines and structural Coloration on Textiles has been granted! The aim of the project is to create microsized conductive lines on textiles without compromising the flexibility and textiles comfort. This is an industrial project with collaboration of the Fachhochschule Vorarlberg and 5 more companies from Vorarlberg (Wolford AG, Drexel Embroidery GmbH, Insomnia Scheffknecht Peitler OG, and Heinz Mehrrath Textiletiketten e.U.) and one company from Salzburg (Adaptive Regelsysteme GmbH).

The ConCoTeX project will be in synergy with EmbelRed since both projects deal with the development of conductive textiles in challenging environments.

https://www.ffg.at/presse/ministerin-schramboeck-steirische-quetschn-goes-digital

We have enjoyed supervising two students (Laura Dür and Julia Richter) from BG Dornbirn. They have performed an excellent internship at our institute under the FFG Talente-Programm.

 

From left to right: Laura Dür, Julia Richter, Dr. Avinash P. Manian, Dr. Noemí Aguiló-Aguayo.

I am happy to announce that our ELIIT proposal called "Embroidered electrodes for high-performance redox flow batteries (EMBROIDER-POWER) has been granted! The ELLIT (European Light Industries Innovation and Technology) is an European project financed by the COSME program, which aims to support European collaborations between SMEs in the textile, clothing, footwear and leather sectors, together with technology centers or companies.

http://ec.europa.eu/eliit

 

Working on publications and project proposals. I am happy to announce that a new manuscript has been accepted for publication! Activation of carbon tow electrodes for use in iron aqueous redox systems for electrochemical applications Thanks Dr. Philipp Schröder for this nice piece of work!

https://doi.org/10.1039/D0TC00594K

We are very happy to announce that our first manuscript has been published at Electrochemistry Communications and it is freely available to everyone!

the-role-of-electrode-orientation-to-enhance-mass-transport-in-redox-flow-batteries.pdf

Working on WP2.1 and WP2.2 electrode designs and electrode integration in cells. First paper submitted!

Preparation of the presentation for the Austrian Chemistry Days conference (Chemietage) 2019 in Linz (Austria). It was an interesting meeting, where we met Prof. Dr. Oliver Trapp, among others!

Preparation of the poster for the International Flow Battery Forum 2019 in Lyon (France). It was a successful conference! our first results with the embroidered electrodes (which we hope they will be soon accepted for publication) were recognized by the research community, and the poster was awarded with the best introduction to a poster paper! We met the czech company Pinflow Energy Storage, from whom we received a redox flow battery for testing our electrodes.

Working on WP2.1. Assessment of the electrode design and systematic characterization of embroidered electrodes. Preparation of embroidered electrodes with the help of our lab technician Thomas Drozdzik (Right image). Preparation of the cell frames using a Prusa 3D printer (Left image).

        

https://www.wissensdurst-festival.at/copy-of-andelsbuch-2018

Our presentation is available in the link below. It contains a first part about the energy situation in the EU and some energy concerns, and a second part about our work on Li-ion batteries and redox flow batteries using textiles structures. We hope you enjoy it!

/textilchemie/embelred/images/presentation_wissensdurst_2019.pdf

Friday 12.04.2019. In celebration of the 350th Anniversary of the University of Innsbruck, we have an Open Day for everyone at our Research Institute of Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics to show our facilities and laboratories! Sharing the importance of our Hertha-Firnberg project with the general public! Lectures in Vorarlberg are offered to celebrate the 350th Anniversary! More information is available at the link below.

https://www.uibk.ac.at/350-jahre/veranstaltungen/forscherinnen-hautnah.html

Abstract accepted for a poster presentation at IFBF 2019! Eager to share our first project results! Title of the abstract: Evaluation of the mass transport phenomena in flow-through electrodes with controlled geometries and arrangements

Friday 08.03.2019. Award ceremony Hertha-Firnberg and Elise-Richter FWF funding programmes. It was a great honour to meet so inspiring female researchers! I am profoundly grateful to the FWF for their continuous encouragement and support to female researchers.

Working on WP1-2. Evaluation of catholyte/anolyte probe systems.

A new 3D printer is available in the lab. Development of customized cell designs. 

Working on WP1-1. Determination of the fundamental electrochemical characteristics of chosen redox couples

Exciting lab work with Philipp Schröder electrolyte - Patent application in progress

Beginning of the project