Prospective life cycle assessment of a flexible all-organic battery. (1st November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Shan; Ericsson, Niclas; Sjödin, Martin; Karlsson Potter, Hanna; Hansson, Per-Anders; Nordberg, Åke
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 373(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-01
• Subjects: Prospective life cycle assessment -- Emerging technologies -- Polymer based battery -- Flexible lithium ion battery -- Flexible electronics; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133804
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Strong interest from researchers and industry is accelerating development of flexible energy storage technologies for future flexible devices. It is critical to consider the environmental perspective in early development of new emerging technologies. In this study, cradle-to-factory gate prospective life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed on production of an all-organic battery with conductive redox polymers as electrode material. To gain a better understanding of the environmental performance of the all-organic battery, a flexible lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery with lithium titanate oxide and lithium cobalt oxide as electrode active materials was modeled as reference. Main environmental impacts of the all-organic battery were attributable to anode and cathode production, with electrode backbones being the main contributors. Solvents, catalysts, waste treatment, energy, and bromine were key individual contributors. Comparison with the flexible Li-ion battery indicated inferior environmental performance of the all-organic battery due to its relatively low specific energy (Wh/kg) and large amount of materials needed for production of its electrode backbones. Sensitivity analysis showed that changing scaling-up parameters and the production route of 3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene (a precursor of electrode backbones) strongly influenced the results. In order to lower the environmental impacts of the all-organic battery, future research should focus on designing a short production chain with lower material inputs of electrode backbones, increasing battery cycle life, and improving the specific energy of the battery. In addition, relevant recommendations were provided for prospective LCAs of upscaled systems. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Prospective LCA was performed on an all-organic battery and flexible Li-ion battery. Flexible Li-ion battery shows better environmental performance. Environmental hotspots and improvement areas for an all-organic battery are listed. Practical recommendations on LCA in emerging technologies are provided.