What are your specific tasks in the EMPHASIS team at Pleione Energy?
As a senior materials and processes engineer on the EMPHASIS project, my role centers on developing electrodes and supercapacitor cells for textile and automotive applications. I lead technical activities, monitor progress, and collaborate with colleagues to drive efficient project execution, all while contributing to innovative technology development.

What is your research focus at Pleione Energy? Working at Pleione Energy gives me the opportunity to engage in the complete development cycle of high-performance batteries and supercapacitors. This encompasses everything from raw material handling and processing to the preparation of graphene-based electrodes and the ultimate creation of fully functional cells. Our research focuses on methods that prioritize environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, aligning with our commitment to sustainability.

What made you go into science? Why did you choose the topic of Material Science? Growing up, it was made clear to me that science is one of the languages all people can understand and speak. Combined also with my curiosity for understanding how things are made and work and the joy of experimenting with materials, selecting science for my studies and research was inevitable for me. My desire to be in a field that is constantly evolving, led me to select Materials Science for my studies, were new materials are constantly being developed and knowledge is continuously expanding.

What makes working in the EMPHASIS project special for you? My involvement in the EMPHASIS consortium and collaboration with our partners provide invaluable learning opportunities across diverse fields of expertise. This motivates me to expand my knowledge and exert greater effort. Moreover, it places me within a collective endeavor to pioneer innovative, environmentally friendly technologies.

What are your specific tasks in the EMPHASIS team at Wood K Plus? I have the pleasure to be part of the EMPHASIS project as a team leader of work package 6, which is concerned with the support of sustainable innovation. By accompanying the innovation process with the assessment of potential environmental impacts, life cycle costs as well as social risks, our task supports the R&D of materials to avoid environmental and social hotspots and to reduce costs along the value chain.

What is your research focus at Wood K Plus? In our team SIIA (Sustainable Innovation and Impact Analysis) at Wood K plus we conduct research on economic, ecological and social impacts of new bio-based materials and processes. The focus of our work lies on the ex-ante Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment with the goal to support our partner companies in their contribution to climate protection and sustainable development.

What expertise are you bringing into the project? Why is this field of research so exciting? My expertise is in the holistic Sustainability Assessment but specifically in the field of social responsibility. This dimension of sustainability focuses on people and society. What makes the topic particularly interesting to me is the complexity of possible impacts and the relationship of the different dimensions. It is crucial to me to focus the assessment on affected stakeholders and to strengthen positive social impacts besides avoiding negative effects.

What are you currently working on within the scope of EMPHASIS? One of the most important step in our assessment is to fully understand the different elements of the supercapacitors production system. We are currently working on process maps and an Input-Output-Analyses to gain more information and to avoid neglecting relevant impact sources. What I like most about our job is the interaction with the project partners, we sort of connect the different aspects of the project.

What are your specific tasks in the EMPHASIS team at FORTH?

My research activities, specifically within WP1, focus on the laser-assisted fabrication of graphene electrodes for SCs. These are tailored for specific uses, either by heteroatom-doping or by incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles. Utilizing LEST, a laser-based process that was recently patented by FORTH, we can deposit these nanostructures onto any substrate, facilitating the production of micro-flexible SCs. My responsibilities also extend to characterizing these electrode materials and evaluating the performance of the SC devices. Integral to my role is also the mentorship and training of young researchers, including undergraduate and master's students.

What is your research focus at FORTH?

Since I joined FORTH five years ago as a PhD student (recently earned my doctorate), my research was focused on graphene-based electrodes for electrochemical energy storage (SCs, batteries). Over a decade, FORTH has pioneered laser-assisted graphene growth from diverse precursors like biomass, polymers, carbides, and graphene oxide. This method allows direct electrode fabrication on chosen substrates, advancing portable energy solutions and marking a significant advance in materials and energy technology.

What expertise you bring into the project and why is this field of research so exciting?

My expertise lies in the laser-assisted synthesis of graphene-based electrodes (including doped-graphene or graphene nanohybrids) as well as on their physicochemical and electrochemical characterization. My excitement towards this field stems not only from the unmatched simplicity of this approach but also from the ability to decorate graphene with different heteroatoms and/or nanoparticles, which allows the tailoring of the electrodes’ properties to our specific needs.

What made you go into science? Why did you choose the topic of energy storage?

Becoming a scientist was a clear vision for me, as since my childhood I have always been intrigued to observe and understand my surroundings. After completing graduate and postgraduate studies in Physics, I chose to work on the development of nanomaterials for energy storage, as this is a currently expanding field that is brimming with new discoveries and is of paramount importance towards the improvement of our society.

What are your specific tasks in the EMPHASIS team at INRIM?

I have the privilege to be involved in the project as a PhD student. My research focus is on the accuracy evaluation in the determination of the SC parameters, which relates well to WP6. My activity on measurement and characterization of SCs through time-domain techniques well fit task 6.3; so, I support Emphasis by performing laboratory tests on SCs, by identifying equivalent circuit models and studying how to improve the traceability and the accuracy of the measurements and identifications.

What is your research focus at INRIM?

My activities are focused on characterization of SCs, especially electric double layer supercapacitors. I participated in the definition of an equivalent circuit model (ECM) of SCs, based on the circuit state equations identified by the error minimization between the model and the measurements. I am currently involved in the evaluation of the measurement uncertainty of the SC parameter assessment, where the repeatability’s important role was highlighted in our last conference communication.

Is this your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this program?

I have a background in teaching in a non-EU university; but, in that experience, collaborative projects were not so common. Therefore, participating in a wide EU-funded project is an amazing experience for me that offers me many opportunities, including collaborative research with experts, creating international contacts, improving technical skills and acquisition of scientific insights through interaction with partners. Involvement with partners also improves my teamwork skills.

What does it mean to you to be part of the EMPHASIS project?

Being part of the project is a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research in my field. It means gaining valuable experience and advancing my professional skills. This project allows me to be part of impactful innovations such as creating new environmental-friendly SCs. Furthermore, being part of this professional team helps me to improve my PhD thesis, which is also about characterization of SCs, with updated knowledge gained from the expert project partners.

What are your specific tasks in the EMPHASIS team at CRF?

CRF is the research department of the Stellantis group, and our team specializes in the testing and characterization of batteries and supercapacitors. In this project, we define the key parameters and technical requirements for the automotive application of supercapacitors, ensuring their suitability for vehicle integration. Additionally, we are responsible for electrochemical testing on demonstrators to evaluate their performance, efficiency, and long-term reliability in real-world conditions.

What is your research focus at CRF?

As a researcher at CRF, I work on various aspects of battery and supercapacitor characterization for automotive applications. Our team specializes in electrochemical analysis to evaluate performance, efficiency, and suitability for vehicle integration. Additionally, we conduct chemical and physical characterization of active materials to understand their composition, stability, and impact on the device performance, for the development of advanced and reliable energy storage solutions.

Is this your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this programme?

I have experience with multiple EU-funded projects on various topics, but this is the first one specifically focused on supercapacitors that I am directly involved in. These programs are highly valuable, fostering collaboration between industry and research to drive innovation. They provide access to cutting-edge knowledge, funding, and networking, essential for developing sustainable solutions.

What are you currently working on within the scope of EMPHASIS?

CRF is involved in the integration and testing of supercapacitor modules for electromobility applications within this project. As a key partner, CRF is responsible for validating the performance of these modules under various automotive load profiles and environmental conditions. This involves defining detailed test plans, conducting in-depth analysis of results, and identifying optimizations to enhance efficiency, durability, and feasibility for future large-scale industrial applications.

What are your specific tasks in the EMPHASIS team at the University of Wuerzburg?

As a PhD student I contribute to Work Package 3 in the EMPHASIS project. I’m mainly responsible for the design and synthesis of new electrolyte systems for supercapacitors, especially electrolytes based on ionic liquids. In this area, I focus on anion synthesis followed by salt metathesis with cations, provided to us by cooperation partners. After the synthesis, my task is to analyze the substances regarding purity and their properties, focusing on conductivity and electrochemical stability.

Is this your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this programme? Yes, this is the first time I’ve worked on a project that’s funded by the EU. I think the project has a lot of potential, as it brings together so many organizations and individuals with completely different backgrounds and expertise. Through the interaction of academic and industrial stakeholders, it offers a unique opportunity to introduce elements of fundamental research to areas closely linked to potential real-world applications.

What are you currently working on within the scope of EMPHASIS?

Currently I’m working on upscaling the synthesis of different electrolyte systems. I am focusing on candidates that have proven promising in previous electrochemical tests. In the final phase of the project, selected representatives will be sent to various partners across Europe, where they will be tested under real conditions in medium-sized supercapacitors to gain insights into their applicability in commercial products.

What makes working in the EMPHASIS project special for you?

For me, two points make the project special. On one hand, it’s a privilege to have my own fundamental research tested by other scientists in application-oriented experimental set-ups and participate closely in the development of new technologies. On the other hand, the intellectual exchange and personal contact with partners across Europe provide insight into the work processes in industry and research in other countries. As a young scientist, these are valuable impressions for my future career.

What are your specific tasks in the EMPHASIS team at FORTH?

Within WP1 my research activities focus on the laser-assisted fabrication of biomass-based graphene electrodes, as is or embedded with metal oxide nanoparticles, and their implementation on SCs. Another task involves the laser modification of conventional slurry-based electrodes to improve the electrolyte ion-accessible surface area. The characterization and electrochemical evaluation of the fabricated electrodes is also included in the tasks.

What is your research focus at FORTH?

As an MSc student (and recent graduate) at FORTH, my research focused on the laser-assisted fabrication of biomass-based graphene electrodes for electrochemical energy storage. Biomass offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional polymer precursors, typically used in this laser process. My work also included the laser modification of slurry-based electrodes to enhance the electrolyte-ion accessible surface area by creating pores and trenches.

What expertise are you bringing into the project? Why is this field of research so exciting?

My expertise lies in the implementation of biomass materials in the laser-assisted synthesis of graphene electrodes (as is or decorated with metal oxide nanoparticles), the laser modification and activation of slurry-based electrodes, and the evaluation of their physicochemical and electrochemical properties. This field excites me because it can transform biomass waste into high-performance porous graphene electrodes through a simple, sustainable process with promising energy storage applications.

What makes working in the EMPHASIS project special for you?

What makes the EMPHASIS project special to me is being part of a collaborative team where each member contributes unique and valuable expertise towards a shared purpose. While my focus within the project was on specific tasks, I gained valuable insights from working alongside fellow researchers tackling other key challenges. This dynamic environment fostered the exchange of knowledge and ideas and made this experience especially enriching and inspiring for my growth as a researcher.