Zn-based eutectic mixture as anolyte for hybrid redox flow batteries

• Published in: Scientific reports 2018-04, Vol.8 (1), p.5740-8, Article 5740
• Main Authors: Wang, Yiyu, Niu, Zhihui, Zheng, Qi, Zhang, Changkun, Ye, Jing, Dai, Gaole, Zhao, Yu, Zhang, Xiaohong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/4077/4079/891; 639/638/675; Batteries; Carbon; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Energy storage; Fourier transforms; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Redox potential; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silver chloride; Solvents; Spectrum analysis; Viscosity; Voltammetry; Zinc
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24059-x

Developing greener batteries with new chemistries is a formidable challenge, and a major focus for years to come. Redox flow batteries are receiving increasing research interest for grid-scale electrochemical energy storage owing to their unique architecture. However, challenges still remain by their low energy density as well as corrosive and/or toxic electrolytes. An anolyte based on aprotic Zn deep-eutectic-solvent, which uses low cost, abundant and environmentally benign materials, exhibits a utilizable concentration of Zn 2+ ca. 1.7 M, resulting in a reversible volumetric capacity of ca. 90 A h·L −1 . Combined with high efficiencies and relatively low redox potential of −1.12 V vs. Ag/AgCl, such an anolyte provides an alternative way to explore a family of anolytes using new chemistries for rechargeable Zn batteries that meet the criteria for grid-scale electrical energy storage.