Materials challenges of aqueous redox flow batteries

• Published in: MRS energy & sustainability Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Luo, Jian, Wang, Abigail P., Hu, Maowei, Liu, T. Leo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.03.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Aqueous electrolytes; Business metrics; Carbon; Chemistry and Materials Science; Climate change; Economics and Management; Electricity; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Energy efficiency; Energy Materials; Energy Policy; Energy resources; Energy storage; Large-Scale Energy Storage — Perspective; Low cost; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Rechargeable batteries; Renewable and Green Energy; Renewable resources; Stability analysis; Sustainable Development; Renewable; Sustainability; Energetic material; Energy storage
• ISSN: 2329-2229; 2329-2237
• DOI: 10.1557/s43581-022-00023-1

Merits and drawbacks of representative inorganic and organic redox active electrolytes used in aqueous redox flow batteries are discussed. Appropriate assessment and reporting methods of the cycling stability of electrolyte materials are recommended. Future directions in developing advanced electrolyte materials are presented. Redox flow batteries represent a viable technology for scalable energy storage. However, widespread market adoption of flow battery technologies is significantly impeded by the lack of robust, low-cost redox active electrolyte materials. In this perspective, we highlight the merits and drawbacks of representative inorganic and organic redox active electrolytes. We also provide a number of research strategies to develop high-performance redox active electrolytes to enable energy dense, durable, low-cost flow battery technologies. Graphical abstract