Energy Storage Materials and Systems
| Module title | Energy Storage Materials and Systems |
|---|---|
| Module code | ENEM014 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Zhenyu Zhang (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
Renewable energy sources and energy storage technologies are critical components of the transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon energy system. The development and implementation of new energy storage systems requires sufficient knowledge in material sciences, which is an interdisciplinary field that studies the structure, properties, behaviour, and characterization at atomic/molecular and micro/macro level.
This module is suitable for specialist students and recommended for interdisciplinary pathways.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module can equip students with the knowledge and skills in material/physics/chemistry science, emphasizing advanced materials for research and practical applications in energy storage systems. Students can gain a deep understanding of the performance and limitations of different materials and energy storage systems. In this module, you will learn about energy storage materials and understand how to explore new materials and optimize their properties to enhance the performance, safety, and reliability of different technologies such as electrochemical (hydrogen fuel cells, batteries, supercapacitors), thermal and mechanical energy storage systems.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Apply a comprehensive knowledge physics, chemistry, material science, and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems. Much of the knowledge will be at the forefront of the subject of study and informed by a critical awareness of new development sand the wider context of engineering. This will include different types of materials; material structure; properties; synthesis methods; characterization methods.
- 2. Formulate and analyse complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions. Evaluating available data and using engineering judgement to work with information that may be uncertain or incomplete, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed. This will be achieved through learning about the energy storage materials and systems.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Understand the multidiscipline areas such as nanotechnology, electrochemical fundamental principles and material analysis methods. Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model and analyse complex problems.
- 4. Use a risk management process to identify, evaluate and mitigate risks associated with a particular project or activity. This will involve practical laboratory skills to investigate complex problems, apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Select and critically evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to solve complex problems, such as search literature on energy storage materials research and write reports on special topic.
- 6. Function effectively as an individual and as a member or leader of a team. Collaboration with others in solving real problems on one topic, and mutual assessment on others topic about energy storage material design projects.
Syllabus plan
1. Overview: material structure, properties, manufacturing and characterization
2. Electrochemical fundamentals and battery systems
3. Material selection for lithium-ion battery systems
4. Key issues in battery energy storages systems
5. Materials for hydrogen generation/storage and fuel cells
6. Thermal energy storage materials and systems
7. Integration of energy generation, grid and storage systems
8. Battery test lab work
9. Group project on energy storage material/systems topics
10. Tutorials and presentation
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 30 | Lectures with integrated tutorials |
| Guided independent study | 120 | Reading materials, preparing for assessments |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual report | 50 | 2000 words | 1, 3, 5 | Written |
| Group presentation | 50 | 15 minutes group presentation | 2, 4, 6 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual report (50%) | Individual report (50%) | 1, 3, 5 | Referral/deferral period |
| Group presentation (50%) | Individual presentation (50%) | 2, 4, 6 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Referred and deferred assignments will mirror the original modes of assessment.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
• Materials Science and Engineering: an introduction, 10th Edition, by William D. Callister, David G. Rethwisch, Wiley, 2018. (Available online via library: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https%3A%2F%2Felibrary.exeter.ac.uk%2Fidp%2Fshibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/268682)
• Energy Storage: Fundamentals, Materials and Applications, second edition, by Robert Huggins, Springer, 2016. (need to purchase. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Energy-Storage-Fundamentals-Materials-Applications/dp/3319212389)
• Handbook of Energy Materials, by Ram Gupta, Springer Singapore, 2022. (need to purchase: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4480-1)
• Novel Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices: Materials, Architectures, and Future Trends, by Feng Li, Lei Wen, Hui-ming Cheng, Wiley, ISBN: 978-3-527-34579-3. 2021. (need to purchase: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Novel+Electrochemical+Energy+Storage+Devices:+Materials,+Architectures,+and+Future+Trends-p-9783527345793)
• Materials for Energy Storage, Generation and Transport: Volume 730, by Ricardo B. Schwarz, Cambridge University Press, 2014. (need to purchase: https://tertulia.com/book/materials-for-energy-storage-generation-and-transport-volume-730-ricardo-b-schwarz/9781107411852)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Web-based and electronic resources:
• The Elsevier journal Energy Storage Materials, impact factor 20.831 (2023) https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-storage-materials
• ELE.
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
Other resources:
• Recent advances in Energy Storage Materials and Devices, by Li Lu, Materials Research Foundations Ser., Volume 12, publisher: Materials Research Forum LLC, 2017. (Available online via library: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/exeter/detail.action?docID=4825671)
• Nanostructured Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion, by Luca Pasquini, Basel: MDPI-Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022. (Available online via library: https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.uoelibrary.idm.oclc.org/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=9bb7e97c-5809-4599-810f-bdd4cf91d1e2%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=edsdob.20.500.12854.91222&db=edsdob)
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | (After 2025/26 entry) ENE1013 Fundamentals of Engineering, ENE1015 Fundamentals of Materials, and ENE3007 Energy Storage Technologies (Before 2025/26 entry) ENE1003 Science for Energy Engineering, ENE3007 Energy Storage Technologies |
| Module co-requisites | ENEM105 Low Carbon Vehicles and Transport |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/11/2025 |
| Last revision date | 17/09/2025 |
