Solution Properties and Practical Limits of Concentrated Electrolytes for Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries

Zhang, Jingjing; Corman, R. E.; Schuh, Jonathon K.; Ewoldt, Randy H.; Shkrob, Ilya A.; Zhang, Lu

doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b02009

Title: Solution Properties and Practical Limits of Concentrated Electrolytes for Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries

Journal Article · Thu Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Journal of Physical Chemistry. C

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b02009· OSTI ID:1461454

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Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Joint Center for Energy Storage Research. Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Joint Center for Energy Storage Research; Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Science and Engineering

Nonaqueous redox flow batteries (NRFBs) use energized organic fluids that contain redox active organic molecules (ROMs) and supporting electrolyte. Such all-organic electrolytes have wider electrochemical stability windows than the more familiar aqueous electrolytes, potentially allowing a higher energy density in the solutions of charged ROMs. As this energy density increases linearly with the concentration of the charge carriers, physicochemical properties of concentrated ROM solutions in both states of charge present considerable practical interest. For NRFBs to become competitive with other types of flow cells, the current techno-economic analyses favor highly concentrated solutions (>1 M) with high ionic conductivity (>5 mS/cm). It is not presently clear that such solutions can have the required dynamic properties. In this paper, we show that ion diffusivities and conductivities of ROM-containing electrolytes reach maxima around 0.5 M and decrease significantly at higher concentrations; realistic limits are established for variations of these parameters. Furthermore, using closed-shell analogues for open-shell charged ROMs, we show that reconstitution of highly concentrated fluids during electrochemical charging will have strong adverse effects on their properties, including an increase in viscosity and decrease in conductivity and ion diffusivity. Finally, given our results, it appears that the target concentrations of NRFB fluids need to be reconsidered in terms of concentration-dependent conductivity and viscosity.

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Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 1461454

Journal Information:: Journal of Physical Chemistry. C, Vol. 122, Issue 15; ISSN 1932-7447

Publisher:: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 44 works

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