August 24, 2025
HighMag – High-energy, low-cost and scalable generation 5 magnesium-based batteries for mobility applications and beyond –
“HighMag” is funded though the EU’s HORIZON-CL5-2024-D2-02- call and has been granted 5 million euro to comprehensively advance all aspects of the development of rechargeable magnesium batteries. The “HighMag” consortium is coordinated by the “Austrian Institute for Technology” (AIT) and consists of 13 Partners from academia and industry from EU- and non-EU countries (Austria, Finland, France, Germany & Poland, Israel, UK, and Switzerland).
As part of the project, HIU’s research group “Solid-State Chemistry” led by Prof. Maximilian Fichtner has taken on the task to develop improved electrolytes for rechargeable magnesium batteries (DOI: 10.1002/chem.202402754).
One of our goals is to improve the performance of the established electrolyte that contains a highly fluorinated organic magnesium salt (DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.8b01061, DOI: 10.1039/C7TA02237A, DOI: 10.1016/j.ensm.2021.11.012) through inorganic additives (DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c07648) and alternative (co-) solvents.
The farther reaching objective is to develop an electrolyte free of fluorinated hydrocarbons. The use of such compounds, also known as PFAS[a] (Per- and PolyFluoroAlkyl-Substances), in consumer goods and materials is increasingly regarded as problematic due to the extremely long persistence of these compounds in the environment and the toxicity of their degradation products. More environmentally benign materials that provide a similar performance are therefore highly sought after.
Further information:
To stay up to date on the progress of HighMag check here: https://highmag-project.eu/
[a] https://echa.europa.eu/hot-topics/perfluoroalkyl-chemicals-pfas