Sulfonated Lignin Redox Species for Scalable Flow Battery Electrolytes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current redox flow batteries face challenges such as high costs, reliability issues, and toxicity due to reliance on expensive inorganic redox materials, limiting their large-scale deployment for energy storage, especially with intermittent renewable energy sources.
Innovation Solution
Development of novel sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compounds derived from lignin, crude oil, or coal, which serve as cost-effective, non-toxic, and highly soluble redox active species for redox flow batteries, enabling scalable and efficient energy storage solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If inorganic redox materials (vanadium, bromine) are used in redox flow batteries, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but cost increases and toxicity issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and toxic inorganic redox materials (vanadium, bromine) with inexpensive organic compounds derived from lignin, a renewable biomass resource. The organic redox materials are cost-effective and environmentally benign, eliminating the harmful effects associated with inorganic materials while maintaining energy storage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by transitioning from inorganic redox couples to organic redox couples. Specifically, it uses organic compounds with appropriate redox potentials and solubility characteristics to achieve the desired energy storage capacity without the toxicity and cost penalties of inorganic materials.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If renewable energy sources are integrated into power grids, then carbon emissions are reduced, but intermittency challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and stores energy during periods of high renewable energy generation when carbon emissions are reduced. The redox flow battery system captures excess energy from intermittent renewable sources and stores it chemically, making it available during periods when renewable generation is insufficient, thus addressing the intermittency problem while maintaining the carbon emission reduction benefit.
3Quantity of substance
If redox flow batteries are scaled up for large applications, then energy storage capacity increases, but material costs and availability become limiting factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs organic redox materials derived from lignin, which is abundant, renewable, and inexpensive compared to inorganic materials like vanadium. This enables large-scale deployment of redox flow batteries without being constrained by material availability or high costs, facilitating the scaling up needed for large energy storage applications.
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 use of lignin-derived sulfonated compounds provides a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally friendly solution for redox flow batteries, enhancing energy density, operating potential, and cycle life, thus facilitating broader adoption in energy storage applications.
Implementation Method 1
Redox reactions are employed to store energy in the form of a chemical potential in liquid electrolyte solutions which flow through a battery of electrochemical cells during charge and discharge. The stored electrochemical energy can be converted to electrical energy upon discharge with concomitant reversal of the opposite redox reactions.
Implementation Method 2
During discharge, electrons are released via an oxidation reaction from a high chemical potential state on the anode of the battery and subsequently move through an external circuit. Finally, the electrons are accepted via a reduction reaction at a lower chemical potential state on the cathode of the battery.
Implementation Method 3
During discharge, electrons are released via an oxidation reaction from a high chemical potential state on the anode of the battery and subsequently move through an external circuit. Finally, the electrons are accepted via a reduction reaction at a lower chemical potential state on the cathode of the battery.
Implementation Method 4
RFBs usually include a positive electrode (cathode) and a negative electrode (anode) in separated cells and separated by an ion-exchange membrane, and two circulating electrolyte solutions, positive and negative electrolyte flow streams
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to novel lignin-derived compounds and compositions comprising the same and their use as redox flow battery electrolytes. The invention further provides a method for preparing said compounds and compositions as well as a redox flow battery comprising said compounds and compositions. Additionally, an assembly for carrying out the inventive method is provided.