“Towards Natural resources-derived Energy-storage devices” (NatEsd)

To support sustainable development, two divisions with complementary expertise in biomass processing and battery technology (Energy Engineering) as well as mineral development (Applied Geochemistry) will collaborate to evaluate the feasibility, challenges, and potential of using biomass-derived electrolytes and naturally occurring minerals (e.g., pyrrhotite (Fe₁₋ₓS)) as sustainable anode alternatives in lithium-ion battery systems.

To demonstrate feasibility, a preliminary study will be carried out, selecting a lithium-ion battery as a representative system using bio-based electrolytes extracted from forest biomass and pyrrhotite as anode material extracted from natural minerals. This project integrates materials science, environmental chemistry, and circular economy principles to develop safe, high-energy-density batteries using exclusively renewable, earth-abundant materials. The project will deliver measurable outcomes and seed results, underscoring the viability and significance of using biomass and natural mineral resources to create environmentally responsible electrochemical energy storage devices.