Graphene Flagship attends Network NanoCarbon energy storage conference

Developing new, efficient methods to store energy is the key to unlocking the door to a more sustainable future. New energy storage technologies are a hot topic in research at the moment, as well as being at the centre of the public eye – so Network NanoCarbon, an international network for safe and responsible innovation using carbon nanomaterials, organised their Nanocarbons for Energy Storage online event on 14 October 2020.

Graphene Flagship partners from the Energy Storage Work Package, VARTA Micro Innovation GmbH, Austria, and the Italian Institute of Technology, Italy, joined the discussion. They are currently working together to improve small electronic devices using graphene. At the event, Vittorio Pellegrini, Work Package Leader for Energy Storage, presented an overview of the applications of two-dimensional materials like graphene in energy storage devices. Following this, Christoph Stangl, Project Manager at VARTA Micro Innovation GmbH, presented VARTA’s success story of using graphene to improve batteries.

Delegates at the event enjoyed talks about from a whole host of other top European institutions. Afterwards, an open discussion session gave everyone in attendance the opportunity to virtually meet and network with leading players in the market of batteries and supercapacitors.

Even with the many outstanding developments in energy storage at and, the delegates of the event agreed that there is no one single application of graphene that will meet the world’s energy needs. The consensus was that carbon nanomaterials like graphene have significant advantages for batteries and supercapacitors, but their effectiveness varies for each application. The Graphene Flagship recognises the importance of events like this, as collaboration breeds innovation, and we were pleased to take part.

Stangl comments: “This event was a great opportunity to get in contact with experts on nanocarbons from industry and academia. I personally consider it as a starting point for fruitful prospective collaboration. We recognised that there are challenges but also opportunities for graphene and other nanocarbons, and it was a pleasure to represent the Graphene Flagship at this well-organised online conference.