Energy & Electrochemistry

Engineering material interfaces for sustainable energy storage and electrochemical technologies

The Challenge

The transition to a low-carbon economy requires electrochemical technologies that can store energy efficiently while reducing reliance on scarce resources and energy-intensive processes. This creates a need for new materials and interfaces that combine electrochemical performance with resource availability, sustainability and long-term stability and safety.

At the same time, sustainable technologies depend on efficient ways of separating and recovering critical elements from complex resources. We investigate how electrode–electrolyte and membrane–solution interfaces can be engineered to control ion transport and selectivity, with a focus on zinc-ion energy storage and membrane-based lithium extraction.

What We Investigate

How can zinc-ion batteries provide sustainable energy storage?

We investigate zinc-ion batteries as an alternative or complementary to energy-storage technologies that are based on more resource-constrained materials, focusing on the materials and interfaces that govern ion transport, charge storage and cycling stability. Our aim is to develop battery systems that combine electrochemical performance, safety and durability with the use of abundant and potentially more sustainable materials.

How can bio-based materials improve the sustainability of zinc-ion systems?

We explore bio-derived and other sustainable materials for use in zinc-ion batteries, including carbon-based electrode materials and bio-based electrolytes. We investigate how their composition, structure and interfaces influence electrochemical behaviour, with the aim of combining renewable feedstocks with effective and durable energy-storage performance.

How can membrane interfaces enable selective recovery of critical metals?

We develop and investigate membranes for the selective separation and recovery of critical metals from complex aqueous streams, including lithium from seawater and valuable metals from spent batteries. By controlling membrane composition, structure and ion transport, we aim to develop efficient separation processes that support resource recovery and a more circular use of critical materials.

How can electrochemical interfaces be engineered to control ion transport and selectivity?

We investigate how material composition, structure and interfacial properties influence the movement and selective separation of ions through electrodes, electrolytes and membranes. By linking interfacial processes to electrochemical performance and separation efficiency, we seek to design materials with tailored transport properties for sustainable energy storage, resource recovery and recycling.

Our Research Approach

We investigate how the composition, structure and interfaces of electrochemical materials control the transport and behaviour of ions. By engineering electrode–electrolyte and membrane–solution interfaces, we seek to understand and tailor the processes that govern energy storage, ion selectivity and resource recovery.

Our approach combines materials development, electrochemical testing and membrane-based separation with detailed characterization of materials and interfaces. We use this approach to develop zinc-ion battery materials, investigate bio-based components for energy storage, and engineer membranes for lithium extraction and recovery of critical metals from complex streams, including battery-recycling processes.

Research Examples and Projects

Research Capabilities

Our research capabilities span the design, processing, characterization and functional testing of adaptive materials and responsive coatings. We combine chemical, structural, thermal, optical, mechanical and surface characterization with controlled stimulus–response experiments to understand how material composition and interfaces determine adaptive behaviour and long-term performance.

Battery materials & electrochemical testing

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Bio-based & sustainable materials

Membrane development & ion separation

Critical-metal recovery & battery recycling

Selected Publications

Mus, J., Nuyttens, R., Vanierschot, M., Vandeginste, V., Buysschaert, F. (2025)

Experimental study of the effects of ambient conditions on the performance of open-cathode PEM fuel cells

Journal of Power Sources, 660, 238467

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Madhav, D., Wang, J., Keloth, R., Mus, J., Buysschaert, F., Vandeginste, V. (2025)

A Review of Proton Exchange Membrane Degradation Pathways, Mechanisms, and Mitigation Strategies in a Fuel Cell

Energies, 17 (5), 998

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Vandeginste, V., Wang, J. (2024)

A review of the Synthesis of Biopolymer Hydrogel Electrolytes for Improved Electrode–Electrolyte Interfaces in Zinc-Ion Batteries

Energies, 17 (2), 310

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Wang, J., Szabo, L., Madhav, D., Ferreira, I., Vandeginste, V. (2023)

Recent progress in interfacial engineering strategies for Mn-based oxide cathodes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries: Mechanisms, modifications, and performance enhancement

Energy Storage Materials, 63, 103015

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Szabo, L., Thielemans, W., Seo, J.W., Buysschaert, F., Dionysiou, D.D., Vandeginste, V. (2023)

A tutorial mini-review on nanoporous carbons from biosourced compounds: ordered hierarchical nanoarchitectures through benign methodologies

RSC Sustainability, 1, 1354-1368

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