Aqueous NDI Redox Flow Battery Electrolytes for Low-Toxicity Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current redox flow batteries face challenges with the intermittence of renewable energy sources, performance issues, toxicity, and high costs, particularly due to the use of metals like Iron and Vanadium, and lack environmentally benign energy storage solutions that can efficiently match supply and demand.
Innovation Solution
A redox flow battery design utilizing aqueous-based electrolytes with a positive compartment containing a positive electrode and a negative compartment with a negative electrode, featuring an organic redox-active molecule like naphthalene diimide (NDI) or modified NDI, separated by an ion-selective membrane, allowing for the flow of electrolytes and enabling efficient energy storage and discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If metal-based electrolytes (Iron, Chromium, Vanadium) are used in flow batteries, then energy storage capacity is improved, but toxicity and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the electrolyte from metal-based compounds to organic molecules (quinones, anthraquinones, benzoquinones) and ammonium salts, fundamentally altering the material system to eliminate toxicity while maintaining energy storage functionality through organic redox reactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs abundant, inexpensive organic molecules and ammonium-based salts that can be readily synthesized or sourced, replacing rare and expensive metal electrolytes, making the system economically viable and environmentally benign
2Object-affected harmful factors
If organic molecules (quinones, anthraquinones, benzoquinones) are used as electrolytes, then environmental benignity is improved, but solubility and stability in aqueous solutions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite electrolyte systems by combining organic redox-active molecules with ammonium-based salts and aqueous solvents, forming a composite solution that leverages the solubility properties of ammonium salts to enhance the aqueous solubility and stability of organic molecules
Solution Approach 2:
The ammonium-based salts act as intermediary substances that facilitate the dissolution and stabilization of organic redox molecules in aqueous environments, mediating between the organic active molecules and the aqueous solvent to achieve compatible coexistence
3Stability of the object's composition
If ammonium-based salts are used to improve solubility, then aqueous solubility is improved, but cost and complexity of electrolyte formulation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ammonium-based salts serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as supporting electrolytes for ionic conductivity, solubility enhancers for organic redox molecules, and pH buffers for stability, consolidating multiple requirements into a single component class
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 battery achieves high voltage and stability with metal-free, non-toxic electrolytes, offering superior performance, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benignity, suitable for large-scale energy storage and scalable power/capacity ratios, while being safe and maintainable.
Implementation Method 1
a separator component that separates the first aqueous-based electrolyte solution in the positive compartment from the second aqueous-based electrolyte solution in the negative compartment and substantially prevents the positive electrolyte in the positive compartment and the negative electrolyte in the negative compartment from intermingling with each other, while permitting the passage of non-redox-active species between the electrolyte solutions
Implementation Method 2
a redox flow battery comprising: a positive compartment comprising a positive electrode in contact with a first aqueous-based electrolyte solution comprising a positive electrolyte dissolved in a first aqueous-based solvent; a negative compartment comprising a negative electrode in contact with a second aqueous-based electrolyte solution comprising a negative electrolyte being an organic redox-active molecule dissolved in a second aqueous-based solvent
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a redox flow battery comprising: a positive compartment containing a positive electrode in contact with a first aqueous-based electrolyte solution comprising a positive electrolyte dissolved in a first aqueous-based solvent; and a negative compartment containing a negative electrode in contact with a second aqueous-based electrolyte solution comprising a negative electrolyte being an organic redox-active molecule dissolved in a second aqueous-based solvent wherein at least one of the first and second aqueous-based electrolytes is based on an ammonium-based salt, wherein the organic redox-active molecule is a naphthalene diimide, abbreviated NDI, or a modified NDI.