Vanadium flow rechargeable batteries are the subject of increased interest due to their unique advantages: high power and energy density, exceptional endurance under discharge-charge loads, non-toxic aqueous electrolyte, fully recyclable and safe, simplified design with a long “calendar life.” The described characteristics position vanadium flow batteries as an extremely promising electrochemical system for storing energy from renewable sources. Despite the mentioned positive aspects of flow batteries, they demonstrate low energy efficiency in energy storage systems. The main goal of the project is the development of innovative additives to the electrolyte that will increase the energy efficiency of vanadium flow batteries designed for accumulating renewable energy. A significant number of elementary reactions during charge or discharge are associated with processes of proton-ation of intermediate products or proton exchange. The complexity of these processes is one of the factors leading to the low energy efficiency of vanadium flow batteries.
To solve this leading problem, the project proposes a new innovative approach by adding to the electrolyte of vanadium flow batteries polymer materials having ionogenic C-O- functional groups and nitrogen-containing structures, as well as proton-conducting properties. The presence of additional C-O-H functional groups and nitrogen-containing structures is likely to facilitate the charge and discharge processes, and thereby improve and increase the energy efficiency of vanadium flow batteries. The research approach to achieve the objectives of the project proposal is based on 2 stages, each of which has several key steps for studying and optimizing the vanadium flow battery. The first includes the creation of a balanced electrolyte “internal standard”, integration of proton-conducting polymers into the electrolyte and evaluation of their effects on electrochemical reactions. This requires laboratory tests and development of algorithms for simulating the operating environment of the battery. The second stage focuses on demonstrating the improved electrolyte in a 10 kW / 40 kWh vanadium flow battery power system.
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Successful implementation of the proposed project will represent a significant advance in science and technology in the field of sustainable storage of renewable energy in battery systems, both nationally and internationally.
The implementation of the project proposal will develop the research potential of the Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems and the scientists participating in the project in the following several aspects: