The Critical Analysis of Membranes Towards Sustainable and Efficient Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries.

Abstract

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) are a promising technology for large-scale storage of electrical energy, combining safety, high capacity, ease of scalability, and prolonged durability; features which have triggered their early commercial implementation. Furthering the deployment of VRFB technologies requires addressing challenges associated to a pivotal component: the membrane. Examples include vanadium crossover, insufficient conductivity, escalated costs, and sustainability concerns related to the widespread adoption of perfluoroalkyl-based membranes, e.g., perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA). Herein, we review recent advances in high-performance and sustainable membranes for VRFB, offering insights into prospective research directions to overcome these challenges. Our analysis reveals the disparities and trade-offs between performance advances enabled by PFSA membranes and composites, and the lack of sustainability in their final applications. We discuss the potential of PFSA-free membranes and present strategies to enhance their performance. Our study delves into vital membrane parameters to enhance battery performance, suggesting protocols and design strategies to achieve high-performance and sustainable VRFB membranes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.