Redox-Flow Batteries (RFBs) possesses several key advantages that make this technology potentially well suited for large scale energy-storage applications. This is especially true of applications that require high energy-to-power requirements (i.e., multiple-hour discharge times at rated power), since the energy capacity can be increased by simply adding active-material solution without necessarily requiring (or negatively impacting) the power-delivery components. Despite this inherent scaling-factor advantage relative to conventional battery systems, the initial capital cost of flow batteries has been the major barrier to commercialization of RFB-based products. Cost targets for grid-scale energy storage are especially challenging; battery systems for major grid-scale applications must cost significantly less than those currently used for most portable or transportation applications. One attractive path to cost reduction is the development of RFB cells with substantially higher power densities than conventional RFB cells. United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) has developed high performance RFB cells, which have already been scaled up into complete RFB systems by Vionx Energy, who has an exclusive license to UTRC’s differentiated RFB technology. However, additional cost reductions are required to make RFB systems ubiquitous. The major focus of this talk will be on new RFB-stack materials and RFB reactants that can potentially enable RFB systems that meet the DOE's cost target of ≤ $150/kWh. This includes both advanced cell materials (e.g., electrodes, separators/membranes, bipolar plates), as well next-generation active species and new RFB electrolyte chemistries. A brief review of the state-of-the-art of each these major RFB materials will be included, as well as some proposed pathways to alternate materials.

Advanced materials opportunities in redox flow batteries

256th National Meeting (2018)

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