Flow Battery Open Circuit Voltage via Non-Aqueous Electrolytes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flow battery technologies face challenges in achieving high open circuit voltage, energy density, and cost-effectiveness due to limitations in materials and engineering, hindering widespread commercial adoption for large-scale energy storage.
Innovation Solution
A flow battery system utilizing aqueous, all-liquid active materials with high open circuit voltage (>1.4 V) is developed, incorporating metal ligand coordination compounds and redox active materials to enhance energy density and efficiency, reducing system size and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional flow battery materials and engineering are used, then system scalability and cost are limited, but achieving high open circuit voltage and energy density remains unattainable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the electrolyte system by using non-aqueous solvents (such as acetonitrile, dimethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate) instead of conventional aqueous solutions. This parameter change enables higher open circuit voltages (>1.4V) while maintaining system scalability and reducing manufacturing costs through improved energy density and cell efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material strategies by combining specific redox-active compounds (such as iron tris(bipyridine) dichloride, ruthenium complexes, osmium complexes) with optimized non-aqueous electrolyte compositions. These composite material systems achieve high voltage operation while maintaining stability and reducing overall system costs through improved performance
2Productivity
If existing flow battery systems are deployed, then round trip energy efficiency and cycle life are limited, but achieving high energy density and voltage efficiency is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
By changing from aqueous to non-aqueous electrolyte systems, the patent achieves higher energy density through increased voltage operation while simultaneously improving round trip efficiency by reducing parasitic reactions and minimizing energy losses during charge-discharge cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses stable, soluble redox-active complexes that operate efficiently over many cycles without degradation. The use of stable coordination compounds (such as iron-bipyridine complexes and noble metal complexes) ensures long cycle life while maintaining high energy density and voltage efficiency throughout operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves increased energy density, higher electrochemical cell/stack voltage efficiency, and lower costs, resulting in improved round-trip energy conversion efficiencies and modularity, addressing scalability and cost limitations of existing flow batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a first redox active material in a first aqueous electrolyte... a second redox active material in a second aqueous electrolyte... capable of being oxidized and reduced
Implementation Method 2
a separator disposed between the two electrodes... separating the two electrodes and the two electrolytes
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns flow batteries comprising: a first aqueous electrolyte comprising a first redox active material; a second aqueous electrolyte comprising a second redox active material; a first electrode in contact with the first aqueous electrolyte; a second electrode in contact with the second aqueous electrolyte and a separator disposed between the first aqueous electrolyte and the second aqueous electrolyte; the flow battery having an open circuit potential of at least 1.4 V, and is capable of operating or is operating at a current density at least about 50 mA/cm2, wherein both of the first and second redox active materials remain soluble in both the charged and discharged states. In certain embodiments, the redox active materials are metal ligand coordination compounds. The disclosure also describes systems comprising these flow batteries and methods of them.