An Inexpensive Aqueous Flow Battery for
Large-Scale Electrical Energy Storage
Based on Water-Soluble Organic Redox Couples

Abstract

We introduce a novel Organic Redox Flow Battery (ORBAT), for meeting the demanding requirements of cost, eco-friendliness, and durability
for large-scale energy storage. ORBAT employs two different water-soluble organic redox couples on the positive and negative side of a flow
battery. Redox couples such as quinones are particularly attractive for this application. No precious metal catalyst is needed because of the fast
proton-coupled electron transfer processes. Furthermore, in acid media, the quinones exhibit good chemical stability. These properties render
quinone-based redox couples very attractive for high-efficiency metal-free rechargeable batteries. We demonstrate the rechargeability of
ORBAT with anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid or anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid on the negative side, and 1,2-dihydrobenzoquinone- 3,5-
disulfonic acid on the positive side. The ORBAT cell uses a membrane-electrode assembly configuration similar to that used in polymer
electrolyte fuel cells. Such a battery can be charged and discharged multiple times at high faradaic efficiency without any noticeable degradation
of performance. We show that solubility and mass transport properties of the reactants and products are paramount to achieving high current
densities and high efficiency. The ORBAT configuration presents a unique opportunity for developing an inexpensive and sustainable metal-free
rechargeable battery for large-scale electrical energy storage.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY,
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Full text: http://jes.ecsdl.org/content/161/9/A1371.full.pdf

Scientists at USC have developed a water-based organic battery that is long lasting, built from cheap, eco-friendly components.

The new battery – which uses no metals or toxic materials – is intended for use in power plants, where it can make the energy grid more resilient
and efficient by creating a large-scale means to store energy for use as needed.

“The batteries last for about 5,000 recharge cycles, giving them an estimated 15-year lifespan,” said Sri Narayan, professor of chemistry at the
USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and corresponding author of a paper describing the new batteries that was published online
by the Journal of the Electrochemical Society on June 20. “Lithium ion batteries degrade after around 1,000 cycles, and cost 10 times more to
manufacture.”

Narayan collaborated with Surya Prakash, Prakash, professor of chemistry and director of the USC Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute, as
well as USC’s Bo Yang, Lena Hoober-Burkhardt, and Fang Wang.

“Such organic flow batteries will be game-changers for grid electrical energy storage in terms of simplicity, cost, reliability and sustainability,”
said Prakash.

The batteries could pave the way for renewable energy sources to make up a greater share of the nation’s energy generation. Solar panels can
only generate power when the sun’s shining, and wind turbines can only generate power when the wind blows. That inherent unreliability makes
it difficult for power companies to rely on them to meet customer demand.

With batteries to store surplus energy and then dole it out as needed, that sporadic unreliability could cease to be such an issue.

“‘Mega-scale’ energy storage is a critical problem in the future of the renewable energy, requiring inexpensive and eco-friendly solutions,”
Narayan said.

cont

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/06/25/new-battery-technology-will-be-great-if-it-is-viable/#more-111988

Meet me in the crowd, people, people
Throw your love around, love me, love me
Take it into town, happy, happy
Put it in the ground where the flowers grow
Gold and silver shine

Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing

!Meet me in the crowd, people, people
Throw your love around, love me, love me
Take it into town, happy, happy
Put it in the ground where the flowers grow
Gold and silver shine

!Meet me in the crowd, people, people
Throw your love around, love me, love me
Take it into town, happy, happy
Put it in the ground where the flowers grow
Gold and silver shine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQ0vDAbF7s

>The new battery – which uses no metals or toxic materials

I dunno if those sulfonic acids could be classed as non-toxic. Never the less, it would be great to have some form of redox flow battery to enter the market in a competitive way. The vanadium ones really don’t seem to have had any real market penetration.

I’d love to get some viable alternative to lead-acid batteries for domestic use. Volume and mass are not an issue for an off grid situation like mine.

morrie said:

>The new battery – which uses no metals or toxic materials

I dunno if those sulfonic acids could be classed as non-toxic. Never the less, it would be great to have some form of redox flow battery to enter the market in a competitive way. The vanadium ones really don’t seem to have had any real market penetration.

I’d love to get some viable alternative to lead-acid batteries for domestic use. Volume and mass are not an issue for an off grid situation like mine.

When consumers get access to real time pricing of electricity I’m sure that the demand for storage devices will rocket, and prices will plummet. It may be some time in Australia though.