Research and application of increasing electrolyte concentration in all vanadium redox flow battery

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2022.0329

Abstract

Abstract:

The electrolyte of all Vanadium Redox Flow batteries (VRFB) is the solution of a single vanadium element with various valences, which avoids the cross-contamination caused by the penetration of numerous element ions through the membrane. The battery has high cycle times and long service life. VRFB is suitable for peak shaving and valley filling in power stations, new energy power generation and storage, and power supply in remote areas. However, because of the restriction of vanadium ion solubility, the electrolyte concentration of all vanadium flow batteries is relatively low, leading to low battery energy density and large electrolyte storage tank volume. Vanadium battery is more suitable for static energy storage systems, and it is challenging to be used in electric vehicles and electronic products. The electrolyte's high cost also restricts its large-scale commercial application. The study summarizes the approaches and research status of enhancing the concentration and the stability of vanadium electrolytes by introducing various additives, changing supporting electrolytes, and constructing mixed-phase electrolytes based on the solubility of vanadium ions in conventional H₂SO₄ solutions at different acidity and temperature. The mechanism of various additives stabilizing V(V) at high temperatures, the impacts of various acid-supported electrolytes on the solubility of V, the electrochemical properties of the electrolyte, and the internal mechanism of mixed-phase electrolyte for stabilizing the electrolyte are introduced. The possibility and R&D direction of significantly increasing the concentration of vanadium electrolyte prospects is extensively examined as well as the new type of high-concentration vanadium electrolyte reported in a recent study. The comprehensive analysis demonstrates, as a promising study and development direction to significantly enhance the concentration of vanadium electrolyte and increase the energy density of the battery, the changing of conventional H₂SO₄ supporting electrolytes, including the development of HCl/H₂SO_4.

Key words: all vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB), vanadium electrolyte, high concentration, stability, energy storage

CLC Number:

TM 911

Zhaowu ZHU, Xukun ZHANG, Hui SU, Jian ZHANG, Lina WANG. Research and application of increasing electrolyte concentration in all vanadium redox flow battery[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2022, 11(11): 3439-3446.

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