What made you go into science? Why did you choose the topic of batteries? Since I was a kid, I have liked to help my community. During my studies, I realised that science would allow me to go one step forward and contribute to society. In particular, during the studies towards my Master's in Electrochemistry I decided that I wanted to work on energy storage to address the major challenge in the field of energy. Is it your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this programme? I worked in other EU-funded projects, but MeBattery is my first EIC-funded project. In my opinion, the development of disruptive redox flow batteries is of key importance so that this programme is very useful to develop the next generation of technologies, which are not eligible for funding in other EU programmes. What are you currently working on within the scope of MeBattery? I contribute to making progress in MeBattery in two aspects. First, I develop a new methodology that enables fast electrochemical characterization. And second, I study degradation mechanisms with the aim of designing advanced materials for achieving high performances. What motivates you personally? Energy has been key in technology evolution for humanity. My research on redox flow batteries allows me to become a part of the next evolution, which will consist of abandoning fossil fuel. In the future, I wish I could say that I helped in this necessary transition by doing my bit.

What is your role in the MeBattery team at RUB? What is the expertise you are bringing in? My expertise are micro- and nanoelectrochemistry, which are powerful tools to investigate interfaces. Exploring that expertise will contribute to accessing the kinetics of the electron/charge transfer processes on the mediated biphasic battery interfaces. What made you go into science? I have been fascinated by the role of science in changing the human-nature relationship. Making science is the way to expand the knowledge of a society to overcome a current challenge. Searching for clean energy conversion and storage is the main challenge of our time, and that motivated me to work with electrochemistry, and to, particularly engage in research novel battery technology. In your opinion, what impact does MeBattery have? What is special about the project? It is known that our society faces the challenge of developing sustainable energy alternatives. MeBattery proposes a sustainable battery technology focused on overcoming some limitations in state-of-art technologies. Moreover, a large diversity of expertise is combined in MeBattery, which will allow to drive forward the research for a very ambitious alternative battery technology.

José, you are leaving University of Aveiro by the end of April 2023, what were your specific tasks in the MeBattery team at University of Aveiro? During my time in MeBattery at University of Aveiro I focused on developing a predictive tool to estimate the partition coefficient of redox compounds. This involved running experiments in the lab to validate the model, as well as using different types of software, which I really appreciated. Developing this tool is critical for creating high-performance Membrane-Free Batteries based on aqueous biphasic systems, which could revolutionize energy storage. I'm excited to have played a role in this project and to have contributed to advancing this field.

How did the MeBattery project help you with your next career step? Working on the MeBattery project was an incredible learning experience for me. I was able to participate in meetings and discussions that went beyond just the technical details of the project. This helped me to develop both professionally and personally, and I feel that my skills as a researcher have greatly improved. Specifically, I gained experience with COSMO-RS (a thermodynamic model) and gained exposure to a new research area, focused on liquid-liquid equilibrium. I also developed transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and project management. I believe that these skills will be valuable in my next career step, and I'm excited to apply them to my new challenges.

Having worked in an EU-funded project, what would you say is special about it? I really enjoyed working in an EU-funded project. MeBattery is unique in its scope and resources, which allowed me to develop new skills and learn new ways of working. For example, I learned to think like a planner and to share responsibilities and results with a multidisciplinary team. I also gained experience in managing resources and working in a cross-cultural environment. What made the project special to me was the network of people I worked with, who were all dedicated to making a positive impact on society. Being part of such a project was inspiring, and I believe that the work we did will have a lasting impact on the wider community.

In your opinion, what impact does MeBattery have? I believe that MeBattery has the potential to have a significant impact on energy storage in the near future. The combination of thermodynamic and electrochemical concepts, along with the efforts of a smart and hard-working team, is likely to result in a storage device that is more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly than existing technologies. This could have broader implications beyond just energy storage, such as enabling the wider adoption of renewable energy sources and helping to reduce carbon emissions. I am excited to see how the technology evolves in the coming years and to be a part of its development.

What is your research focus at IST Austria? At IST Austria we are developing new functional micro and nanomaterials that can be used as electroactive units in the battery. This work involves the chemical design and synthesis of the materials with a proper combination of organic ligands and metallic centers, but also the characterization of the material after its preparation to confirm the composition and purity.

Why is this field of research so exciting? The field is very exciting due to its intrinsic idea. The battery materials that we are developing for MeBattery are free of many toxic and critical elements like cobalt. In general, the use of such elements has a very important impact on the lives of the citizens. By getting rid of these elements, we aim to achieve more sustainable batteries that can compete with current technologies while lowering the environmental cost.

Is this your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this programme? It’s not my first involvement in an EU-funded project, but it is my first involvement in a Pathfinder EU project. I think that the European Commission is doing a really good job by funding these innovative high-risk high-reward concepts that all in all aim to have a major impact in society.

How do you see the field of sustainable batteries evolving in the future? It is very hard to say as the field is very broad and divided into concepts that are different from each other each other. For example, there is a special interest in fully organic batteries that do not require the use of metals at all, and these are very exciting. But there’s also merit in the recent development of Zn-Air batteries, which have shown that can deliver a lot of power. Overall, the field should evolve in a direction where the economic and environmental costs are reduced to the minimum.