Energy storage devices: development and/or characterization of components of new materials for batteries and supercapacitors aimed at solving safety and sustainability issues

In a world increasingly driven by the need for sustainable energy solutions, electrochemical energy storage technologies are becoming essential for the transition toward a cleaner and more responsible future. This thesis explores some of the most pressing challenges in the field, focusing on lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and innovative carbon-based materials derived from renewable biomass waste. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining electrochemistry, materials science, and sustainability assessment, the work investigates the aging and degradation mechanisms of commercial lithium-ion batteries under realistic operating conditions, with the aim of improving their safety, durability, and long-term performance. At the same time, agricultural waste biomass, such as hazelnut shells, is transformed into advanced carbon materials for energy storage applications, demonstrating how waste resources can be valorized into high-performance and sustainable electrode materials. The thesis also examines the environmental impact of the synthesis processes through a preliminary life cycle assessment, highlighting future perspectives for the development of greener and more sustainable energy storage technologies.