New Materials For Redox Flow Batteries

6f94a437-5d10-4552-b7d5-007098b8d1d2

Closed

EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC

No funds listed.

Sept. 30, 2017

Feb. 28, 2022

Redox flow batteries, with their ability to vary power capacity and energy capacity independently, are a potential way of regulating the power output of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. The goal of current research is to increase the energy density of such systems, while providing long operation lifetimes under much milder operating conditions.

This project aims to increase the energy density by considering both new inorganic molecules/ions/clusters using cheap transition metal ions (Fe, Mn, etc.). Tuning of the ionic species towards optimised electrical performance will then be carried out via modification of the ligands present in such species. The species will be characterised initially via electrochemical cycling to ensure the feasibility towards flow batteries; NMR, UV and IR studies will be used to monitor the electrochemical reactions, where possible in situ. Single crystals will be prepared where necessary for structure solution to validate syntheses.

The literature currently presents several organic systems that could also be used in flow battery technology. To this end, development of current systems with a view towards incorporating metal centres may also allow for an increase of energy density and finer tuning of performance metrics. Solubility, however, may limit such an endeavour, as both oxidised and reduced forms of a species needs to be highly soluble to ensure persistence of species in solution.