An Aqueous Redox Flow Battery Based on Neutral Alkali Metal Ferri/ferrocyanide and Polysulfide Electrolytes

Journal Article · Fri Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 163(1):A5150-A5153

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0221601jes· OSTI ID:1228346

Wei, Xiaoliang ^[1]; Xia, Gordon ^[2]; Kirby, Brent W. ^[1]; Thomsen, Edwin C. ^[1]; Li, Bin ^[1]; Nie, Zimin ^[1]; Graff, Gordon L. ^[1]; Liu, Jun ^[1]; Sprenkle, Vincent L. ^[1]; Wang, Wei ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2. UniEnergy Technologies, LLC, Mukilteo, WA (United States)

Aiming to explore low-cost redox flow battery systems, a novel iron-polysulfide (Fe/S) flow battery has been demonstrated in a laboratory cell. This system employs alkali metal ferri/ferrocyanide and alkali metal polysulfides as the redox electrolytes. When proper electrodes, such as pretreated graphite felts, are used, 78% energy efficiency and 99% columbic efficiency are achieved. The remarkable advantages of this system over current state-of-the-art redox flow batteries include: 1) less corrosive and relatively environmentally benign redox solutions used; 2) excellent energy and utilization efficiencies; 3) low cost for redox electrolytes and cell components. These attributes can lead to significantly reduced capital cost and make the Fe/S flow battery system a promising low-cost energy storage technology. The major drawbacks of the present cell design are relatively low power density and possible sulfur species crossover. Further work is underway to address these concerns.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1228346
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-93471; TE1400000
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 163(1):A5150-A5153, Vol. 163, Issue 1; ISSN 1945-7111
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English