Twinning for Rechargeable Sodium-Ion Battery Research (TwinBat)

The TwinBat project plans to make Gebze Technical University (GTU) a center of attraction in the field of battery research in Türkiye, especially in the field of sodium-ion batteries (NIBs), through the joint efforts of the twinning partners. With mutual benefit at the forefront, the lack of capacity innovation in the field of rechargeable batteries in Türkiye will be addressed through three main efforts: Research, Training and Network. This goal will be achieved by building collaboration with prominent European institutions, including CNRS from France- an internationally recognized laboratory (LRCS) focused on rechargeable batteries, HUB from Germany- an excellent research university that delivers top-level achievements in a wide variety of fields in both national and international comparisons, and in collaboration with industry partners of TIA- founded in 2017 for the development and commercialization of NIBs. Indeed, we are witnessing the rapid development of NIBs nowadays. As of September 2023, both the first EV powered by sodium-ion cells from Chinese company HiNa was demonstrated and TwinBat partner (TIA) reported on the commercial application of the first generation (Gen1) of sodiumion cells in a cordless drill. However, despite these wonderful developments in the NIBs field, a new generation of NIB still needs to be
developed to reach the energy density of Li-ion batteries- TwinBat target to develop Gen2 NIBs to be closer to Li-ion (LFP) cells. While the research topic is timely and of immediate relevance, emerging economies like Türkiye must augment their capacity and competitiveness to match the EU's technological competence on this domain. Thus, increasing GTU's visibility and research capacity; enhancing the research profile of academics working in NIBs; and improving the proposal development, project management and IPR skills of administrative staff, will be achieved by investing in individuals and research - in this context, TwinBat is a perfect fit.