Redox active colloidal particles for flow batteries
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsJeffrey S. MOORE, Joaquin RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ, Nagarjuna GAVVALAPALLI, Elena MONTOTO, Jingshu HUI
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Abstract
The invention provides a redox flow battery comprising a microporous or nanoporous size-exclusion membrane, wherein one cell of the battery contains a redox-active colloidal particle dispersed in a non-aqueous solvent. The redox flow battery provides enhanced ionic conductivity across the electrolyte separator and reduced redox-active species crossover, thereby improving the performance and enabling widespread utilization of the battery. Redox active colloidal particles (RACs) were prepared, analyzed, and were found to be highly effective redox species for use in redox flow batteries.
Claims20
A redox flow battery comprising a first and a second chamber separated by a microporous or nanoporous size-exclusion membrane, wherein the first and second chambers each contain a non-aqueous solvent, a charge balancing ion, and an electrode;
- and
- wherein the first chamber contains one or more colloidal particles suspended in the non-aqueous solvent, wherein the colloidal particles are redox-active viologen-based polymer particles, redox-active ferrocene-based polymer particles, or a combination thereof, and
- wherein at least one of colloidal particles comprises a first polymer chain crosslinked with a second polymer chain.
An operating method of a redox flow battery system comprising a first and a second chamber separated by a microporous or nanoporous size-exclusion membrane, wherein the first and second chambers each contain an electrode, the method comprising:
- pumping a first liquid electrolyte into the first chamber and a second liquid electrolyte into the second chamber such that the first liquid electrolyte and the second liquid electrolyte are mixed in either the first chamber, the second chamber, or both by at least one of the first and second liquid electrolyte migrating through the membrane thereby producing electricity;
- wherein the first electrolyte comprises a plurality of colloidal particles and a charge balancing ion dispersed in a non-aqueous solvent, and
- wherein less than about 20 percent of the colloidal particles in the first liquid electrolyte move from the first chamber through the membrane and into the second chamber.
An electrolyte composition for use in a redox flow battery comprising:
- a plurality of colloidal particles and charge balancing ions dispersed in a non-aqueous solvent;
- wherein the colloidal particles comprise redox-active viologen-based polymer particles, redox-active ferrocene-based polymer particles, or a combination thereof;
- wherein the plurality of colloidal particles is about 0.5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent with respect to the non-aqueous solvent;
- wherein the viscosity of the electrolyte is less than about 105 Pa s;
- and
- wherein at least 50% of the colloidal particles have a diameter that is at least 20 nm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.