Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems

The mission of the Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems is to build, develop and preserve scientific knowledge as regards the production, industrial application and operational know-how of efficient advanced technologies implemented in electrochemical energy systems and the training of highly specialized staff as highly capable experts and consultants at the national and international level. For more than five decades, scientific research activities are being carried out at IEES in the field of fundamental and applied electrochemistry, that are currently structured into four thematic subject areas:

  • Batteries. Research and development aimed at creating novel kinds of rechargeable batteries – lead acid, lithium, metallic, superconductors for energy storage and for powering hybrid and electric vehicles.
  • Hydrogen and fuel cells. Research in the field of hydrogen energy systems – the development and improvement of technologies for electrochemical production, storage and transformation into “green” hydrogen, development of fuel and reversible cells; the design of prototypes of hydrogen energy systems.
  • Energy materials. Development and testing of new materials (catalysts, catalytic supports, electrodes, electrolytes, additives, inhibitors) for use in various electrochemical systems (batteries, fuel cells, electrochemical sensors, etc.); studies of processes, mechanisms and phenomena of novel knowledge acquisition in the energy materials subject field.
  • Theoretical electrochemistry and electrochemical methods. The development and introduction of modern electrochemical methods, techniques, tools and technologies for characterization, testing, monitoring and diagnostics of different electrochemical systems; the training of specialists, doctoral and post-doctoral students.

The IEES implements projects funded by the National Science Fund, the National Innovation Fund, European Framework Programs, NATO, UNESCO, the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC) and other international organizations; cooperates with companies from the country and abroad and performs specifically assigned tasks in the applied sciences field.

Some more significant achievements
  • A powerful package of electrochemical techniques has been developed to characterize and test electrochemical energy sources by combining a series of specially developed high-sensitivity and selective instrumental methods (Non-stationary Impedance, Differential Impedance Analysis, Differential Coulometric Spectroscopy);
  • Inhibitors have been found for the sulphation of lead-carbon electrodes for lead-acid batteries operating in partially charged and partially discharged state;
  • Technology for the production of a three-layer separator with innovative design for use in modern types of lead-acid stationary batteries has been developed in order to extend their lifetime;
  • A system for intelligent management and control of the operation of a composite rechargeable battery in an electric vehicle has been developed;
  • A Ni / Zn battery prototype has been developed for stationary energy storage;
  • Technology for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for fuel and electrolytic cells with polymeric anion-conducting membrane has been developed;
  • Dual membrane solid-oxide fuel cell has been developed with an innovative design that eliminates the principal drawback of fuel cells and electrolyzers related to the separation or injection of water through the electrode by introducing a separate water chamber. Its unique advantages are the ability to work in high efficiency mode in combination with quick (instant) switching;
  • Reliable predictive models for assessing long-term performance and probability of damage to solid-oxide fuel cells are in the process of being developed;
  • Research on the creation of a bifunctional gas-diffusion electrode for new types of rechargeable metal-air batteries continues;
  • Work on creating hybrid supercapacitors for use in electric vehicles
Outstanding science-applied developments and their implementation in production
  • Starter lead batteries with a plastic box, replacing the ebonite construction – “Start” plant, Tolbuhin city (today Dobrich);
  • Lithium-manganese dioxide (Li/MnO2) and lithium-sulfur dioxide (Li/SO2) elements and batteries – Musala plant, Samokov town;
  • Zinc-air batteries designed for special purpose applications, at different levels of humidity – Musala plant, Samokov;
  • Catalytic method and device for purification of sulfur dioxide from waste gases in a pilot installation – Copper production plant in Pirdop;
  • Special purpose batteries type “Stirchell”, “Osa” and “Tintyava”;
  • Quaternary sulfate paste to prolong the lifetime of positive plates in lead batteries – “VARTA”, Germany;
  • Wet-filling of tubular plates to improve the energy performance of lead panzer batteries and prolong their lifetime – Energia Targovishte, Elhim-Iskra, Pazardzhik and “HBL Power Systems”, India.

Impressive moments in the history of the IEES

1970 – With a primary zinc-air battery, IEES tested a demonstration electromobile ELMO 70, based on Moskvich 428, which first travelled 210 km – six months before the General Motors prototype.
1977 – Together with specialists from CNRS, France, for the first time using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method, “battery impedance” was measured – which had been previously considered unachievable by this method.
1984 – the first Bulgarian expedition to climb Mount Everest in the Himalayas was successfully equipped with Zinc-air and lithium-sulfur dioxide batteries, created in IEES (CLEPS).
1997 – In a co-operation with the German company ChemTek, a world record at a Salt Lake City /USA/ race was achieved: with a single charge, the demonstration electric van with a rechargeable zinc-air battery passed 764 km for 27 hours without interruption at ambient temperature 0° C in the night / 10 ° C in the day.
2003 – With a project in EU FP6, IEES received the status of Center of Excellence in Portable and Emergency Energy Sources (POEMES) and implemented a program to increase, systemize and disseminate knowledge on the sources of energy and develop e-science – an electronic form for the dissemination of knowledge in the field.
2018 – IEES, in a consortium with another 11 institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and teams from TU-Sofia and Sofia University, won a project for the construction of a Center of Excellence “Mechatronica and clean technologies”, under OP Science and Education for Smart Growth.

Contacts

International relations