Following trends – new classes within teacher grant

Laboratory of Chemical Sources of Power is a micro-specialisation created for students at the School of Advanced Chemical and Material Technologies (Faculty of Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering of the Warsaw University of Technology), which is implemented in collaboration with the Politechnika Gdanska (as remote classes).

The laboratory programme includes issues connected with design, production, exploitation, and utilisation of chemical energy sources (batteries, super-condensers, fuel links). During the classes, students can familiarise themselves with the methodology of selecting the components for constructing electrodes and electrolytes in combination with availability of raw materials, their price and environmental impact. During the class, students independently construct semi-links and full links, and then perform electrochemical and physio-chemical tests.

“The growing popularity of electric cars and accompanying increased significance of renewable energy sources provoke devising new, light and more efficient systems of energy storage, among which electrochemical energy stores are dominant,” says Professor Marek Marcinek, PhD, DSc from the Faculty of Chemistry at WUT, head of specialization Technologies of Conversion and Accumulation of Energy. “Setting up the Laboratory of Chemical Sources of Energy was an obvious step to fit in with the trend. Classes created as part of the teacher grant have enabled the Warsaw University of Technology to offer something very modern to its students, as well as become part of the European movement which involves following the current trends in the field of electromobility and energy storage, and to adjust the education path to the industry needs,” he explains.

The market and students’ needs are the same which is proved by the interest of students in the specialisation. Despite abbreviated time for the launch, the laboratory was popular among young researchers even during the first recruitment stage.

“During classes, students gain complex knowledge on the topic of modern energetics and its economic, social and administrative aspects,” says Professor Marcinek. “The laboratory programme is constructed so that the young researchers can immediately find jobs in this extremely dynamically developing market in Gigafactories, e-mobility, and smart functionalities, among others,” he adds.

Now the application proceedings for awarding affiliation to the newly created specialisation in Battery Academy, operating at the European Battery Alliance, the European Union Initiative, are underway.

–

The project “Laboratory of Chemical Sources of Energy” is funded within the teacher grant under the "Excellence Initiative – Research University” programme implemented at the Warsaw University of Technology.