They call it EMU, and its development involved representatives of three generations and two specialised workplaces. Unlike other measuring devices, EMU is small, compact, universal, and can be customised to suit the needs of specific research.
Batteries and capacitors dominate today’s world, and researchers from VSB-TUO have developed a small, revolutionary device that may change the future use of strategic materials for these technologies. It represents a major advancement in the study of battery and supercapacitor properties. The Electrochemical Measuring Unit (EMU) was developed by a scientific team from the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in collaboration with the Nanotechnology Centre under the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) at VSB-TUO. The team spent one and a half years working on the development of the unit.
“The measuring unit is used for detailed measurement of battery and supercapacitor properties and for testing materials used in their production. Thanks to its advanced functions, it enables the study of electrochemical processes in energy devices while simultaneously monitoring important parameters such as pressure and temperature during operation,” explained Vlastimil Matějka, head of the scientific team from the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VSB-TUO.
Unique features and benefits
EMU boasts a number of innovative characteristics that make it unique on the market. Its compact design makes handling easier and saves laboratory space. A modular construction allows the device to be adapted to the specific requirements of individual customers. Replaceable cartridges eliminate measurement errors, save time, and reduce operating costs. EMU also allows the connection of up to three electrodes (two measuring, one reference) for precise analyses. The unit can be equipped with additional functions as required by the research-such as a pressure sensor for monitoring volume changes in the sample, a temperature sensor for tracking thermal changes, and a heating element for controlled temperature adjustments during experiments.
Wide range of applications
EMU can be used not only in the development of new materials for battery and supercapacitor construction but also in other research areas. It is made of chemically and mechanically resistant materials, ensuring long service life and durability against aggressive substances. It significantly simplifies, speeds up, and reduces the cost of measuring electrochemical parameters of materials in research institutions such as universities, academies of sciences, research centres, and companies in the energy sector.
Teamwork
The development of EMU was carried out by a multidisciplinary team of experts from the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology and the CEET Nanotechnology Centre. Under the leadership of Vlastimil Matějka and Grażyna Simha Martynková, the team built on the activities of the REFRESH project. Oto Mušálek worked intensively on the design and construction of EMU, and during the two-year development, young researchers-doctoral students Lukáš Plesník and Ondřej Mušálek-joined the project. To enhance communication between the unit and its control software, Vratislav Mareš was also invited to collaborate on the development.
Patent protection and future perspectives
The breakthrough EMU solution is currently undergoing patent proceedings, confirming its unique character and exceptional scientific and technological contribution. Its potential use is twofold: the laboratory may manufacture and offer the device for commercial use, or it may perform measurements and testing of samples for companies using EMU on the university premises. To facilitate more efficient commercial application of the device, the researchers are considering founding a university spin-off company.
The development of EMU represents a model example of interdisciplinary collaboration between the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology and the CEET Nanotechnology Centre. This synergy of expertise in materials engineering, electrochemistry and nanotechnology has enabled the creation of a device that brings new possibilities for energy material research.
“EMU strengthens the position of the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology and the Nanotechnology Centre as leading research institutions in the field of materials research in the Czech Republic and opens new pathways for future discoveries by the scientific team in the area of chemical energy storage. The interdisciplinary approach applied in the development of EMU provides a solid foundation for further breakthrough innovations in this strategically important area,” added Kamila Janovská, Dean of the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology at VSB-TUO.