Zinc-iron flow batteries are one of the most promising electrochemical energy storage technologies because of their safety, stability, and low cost. This review discusses the current situations and problems of zinc-iron flow batteries. These batteries can work in a wide range of pH by adopting different varieties of iron couples. An alkaline zinc-iron flow battery usually has a high open-circuit voltage and a long life cycle performance using porous electrode and membrane. In an acidic zinc-iron flow battery, the iron ions in the positive side have good solubility and reversible chemical stability, while zinc in the negative side is greatly affected by the pH. The neutral zinc-iron flow battery has attracted more attention due to its mild condition and low cost using a porous membrane. However, all kinds of zinc-iron flow battery suffer from zinc dendrite and low areal capacity, which hinders its commercial development. Some prospects for developing new electrolyte, electrode, membrane, and battery structures combining experiment and accurate physical models are finally proposed.
Fig. 2
(a) 3D porous carbon felt electrode, (b) self-made PBI membrane, (c) efficiency on different current density and (d) performance of zinc iron flow battery[18]
Fig. 5
(a) schematic of a zinc-iron chloride flow battery with mixed electrolytes; (b), (c) influence of pH on deposition and dissolution of Zn/Fe; (d), (e) cell performance during over 10 days of continuous charge-discharge cycling at T=25 ℃[19]
Fig. 7
(a) The energy barrier for the zinc nucleation and growth processes; (b) overpotential of zinc nucleation and growth processes; (c) schematic of the nucleation and growth processes of zinc dendrites[26-27]
Fig. 10
Deposited zinc morphologies in weight 40% KOH with 1 mo/L zinc oxide with electric quantity for 10 min at the current density of 100 mA/cm2 (a) quiescent electrolyte; (b) flowing electrolyte[32]
Fig. 11
Deposited zinc morphologies in alkaline zinc iron flow battery using zinc plate (a) and (b) top view; (c) and (d) side view; (a) and (c) after charging; (b) and (d) after discharging and 3D porous carbon felt (e) and (f) as electrode, respectively[18]
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... [18] (a) 三维多孔碳毡电极,(b) 自制PBI隔膜,(c) 在不同电流密度下的效率和(d) 循环性能(a) 3D porous carbon felt electrode, (b) self-made PBI membrane, (c) efficiency on different current density and (d) performance of zinc iron flow battery[18]Fig. 2
... [18]Deposited zinc morphologies in alkaline zinc iron flow battery using zinc plate (a) and (b) top view; (c) and (d) side view; (a) and (c) after charging; (b) and (d) after discharging and 3D porous carbon felt (e) and (f) as electrode, respectively[18]Fig. 11(3)隔膜
... [19](a) schematic of a zinc-iron chloride flow battery with mixed electrolytes; (b), (c) influence of pH on deposition and dissolution of Zn/Fe; (d), (e) cell performance during over 10 days of continuous charge-discharge cycling at T=25 ℃[19]Fig. 5
... [26-27](a) The energy barrier for the zinc nucleation and growth processes; (b) overpotential of zinc nucleation and growth processes; (c) schematic of the nucleation and growth processes of zinc dendrites[26-27]Fig. 72.1.2 抑制锌枝晶
... -27](a) The energy barrier for the zinc nucleation and growth processes; (b) overpotential of zinc nucleation and growth processes; (c) schematic of the nucleation and growth processes of zinc dendrites[26-27]Fig. 72.1.2 抑制锌枝晶
... [29]:(a) 电解液中无添加剂;(b) 电解液中添加10 ppm PEISEM images of Zn dendrites electrodeposited from an additive-free electrolyte (a) and from an electrolyte containing 10 ppm PEI (b)[29]Fig. 8
... [32]:(a) 静止电解液;(b) 流动电解液Deposited zinc morphologies in weight 40% KOH with 1 mo/L zinc oxide with electric quantity for 10 min at the current density of 100 mA/cm2 (a) quiescent electrolyte; (b) flowing electrolyte[32]Fig. 10(2)电极