High-Entropy Electrolytes for Electrochemical Energy Storage

• Grant number: 25/20781-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Vitor Leite Martins
• Grantee: Paulo Victor Zanotto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/26309-4 - Beyond Li-ion: development of reversible non-aqueous metal-air batteries, AP.JP

Abstract

Electrolytes' physicochemical properties are key for the realization of high energy and power densities energy storage devices. For instance, the use of metallic lithium as negative electrode in batteries has not been realized due to its instability and irreversibility in conventional electrolytes. Moreover, the reaction rate is also limited by the ions transport in the electrolyte. The use of solid electrolyte may overcome the metallic lithium instability but normally are posed with low ionic conductivity. A new class of material, that has been used in the different components of a battery (electrodes and electrolytes) is the so-called high-entropy material, that is derived from the high-entropy alloys. In a high-entropy material, the number components are as big as the necessary to increase the material entropy and decrease its Gibbs free energy, which results in a more stable material. Moreover, the highly disorder material can also create defects that are beneficial for ionic conductivity. With that, some groups have proposed the use of high-entropy oxides for solid-state electrolytes, and a few other groups have suggested the use of this approach in polymeric gel electrolyte. This project will aim to develop and study high-entropy electrolytes in general, for their application in capacitors and batteries.