Abstract
Polymer membranes play a vital role in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), acting as a separator between the two compartments, an electronic insulator for maintaining electrical neutrality of the cell, and an ionic conductor for allowing the transport of ionic charge carriers. It is a major influencer of VRFB performance, but also identified as one of the major factors limiting the large-scale implementation of VRFB technology in energy storage applications due to its cost and durability. In this work, five (5) high-priority characteristics of membranes related to VRFB performance were selected as major considerable factors for membrane screening before in-situ testing. Eight (8) state-of-the-art of commercially available ion exchange membranes (IEMs) were specifically selected, evaluated and compared by a set of ex-situ assessment approaches to determine the possibility of the membranes applied for VRFB. The results recommend perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes and hydrocarbon anion exchange membranes (AEMs) as the candidates for further in-situ testing, while one hydrocarbon cation exchange membrane (CEM) is not recommended for VRFB application due to its relatively high VO2+ ion crossover and low mechanical stability during/after the chemical stability test. This work could provide VRFB researchers and industry a valuable reference for selecting the polymer membrane materials before VRFB in-situ testing.
Highlights
IntroductionLarge-scale energy storage systems with super long lifespans are a key solution to effectively incorporating renewable energy sources (e.g., solar and wind power) into power systems
Large-scale energy storage systems with super long lifespans are a key solution to effectively incorporating renewable energy sources into power systems
A membrane in a vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) battery cell acts as a separator between the anode and cathode compartment to separate the active species, an electronic insulator, and an ionic conductor facilitating the transport of ions such as protons, or sulfate ions to maintain charge balance within the cell
Summary
Large-scale energy storage systems with super long lifespans are a key solution to effectively incorporating renewable energy sources (e.g., solar and wind power) into power systems. This has become a major focus of attention for the world in the battles against climate change. The all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB), among other redox chemistries, has received significant attention in both academic and industrial communities, primarily due to its avoidance of cross-contamination between the two half-cell electrolytes ascribed to the employment of vanadium as a single active element in both half-cells [3]. Lack of membranes that have a low cost, high stability and excellent ion selectivity is one of the major hurdles preventing VRFB technology from large-scale commercialization [5]
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