Material Design of Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries: Fundamental Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 32; no. 47; pp. e2002132 - n/a
• Main Authors: Li, Zhejun, Lu, Yi‐Chun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2020
• Subjects: aqueous redox flow batteries; Commercialization; Decoupling; Electrolytes; Energy storage; Flux density; Industrial research; Intrinsically safe; Materials science; Rechargeable batteries; redox active materials; redox reactions; Stability analysis; Storage batteries; Storage systems
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202002132

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are critical enablers for next‐generation grid‐scale energy‐storage systems, due to their scalability and flexibility in decoupling power and energy. Aqueous RFBs (ARFBs) using nonflammable electrolytes are intrinsically safe. However, their development has been limited by their low energy density and high cost. Developing ARFBs with higher energy density, lower cost, and longer lifespan than the current standard is of significant interest to academic and industrial research communities. Here, a critical review of the latest progress on advanced electrolyte material designs of ARFBs is presented, including a fundamental overview of their physicochemical properties, major challenges, and design strategies. Assessment methodologies and metrics for the evaluation of RFB stability are discussed. Finally, future directions for material design to realize practical applications and achieve the commercialization of ARFB energy‐storage systems are highlighted. Aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs) are promising large‐scale energy storage technologies. The latest progress on advanced electrolyte design of ARFBs is reviewed, including a fundamental overview of their physicochemical properties, major challenges, and design strategies. Future directions for material design to realize practical applications and achieve the commercialization of ARFB energy‐storage systems are highlighted.