Chinese researchers achieved a breakthrough in their development of organic flow batteries, creating novel ORAMs that help them achieve significant numbers in aqueous flow batteries. In the recent findings by researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, they were able to retain as much as 99.95 percent capacity even after running 850 cycles with their new cell.
This latest development is novel naphthalene derivative-based electrolytes that are air-stable, overcoming the challenges and effects of not using inert gases.
China's Organic Flow Battery Achieves 850 Cycles While Remaining at 99.95% Capacity
DICP
According to the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics' press release, organic redox-active molecules (ORAMs) now bring promising developments for aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs), centering on air-stable naphthalene-based organic materials.
The researchers focused on chemical and in-situ electrochemical methods to synthesize active naphthalene derivatives to purify the ORAMs and make them cost-effective and scalable.
In their tests, its naphthalene flow batteries using 1.5 mol/L electrolytes produce a stable performance that reached up to 850 cycles or around 40 days while retaining 99.95 percent capacity. Notably, its battery performed up to 600 cycles or as much as 22 cycles and remained at full capacity while being exposed to air.
ORAMs were infamous for their renowned instability as well as high costs, but the researchers were able to synthesize active naphthalene derivatives that helped reduce the cost of molecular synthesis.
In their study, the team's as-prepared naphthalene derivatives were able to deliver a "multisubstituted framework with hydrophilic alkylamine scaffolds" that help protect against possible reactions. This outcome was said to improve its solubility in aqueous electrolytes, opening up the future for its AOFB applications.
According to Professor Li Xianfeng, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), this study opens up a new field in "air-stable molecular for sustainable and air-stable electrochemical energy storage" designs.
Battery Breakthroughs and Developments
Batteries are best known for being the top power source for devices or electronics that are not connected to a direct plug, but it is notorious for their planet-exhaustive development, particularly as they require rare Earth metals. Many companies have since looked for alternative components that would make it cost-effective and less harmful through mining, centering on lithium-free power cells.
The current main source of alternative energy sources centers on lithium-ion batteries, and it is known for its typical use of fossil fuels, which are ironically, harmful to the environment. Murdoch University researchers have since found a suitable electrode alternative that is abundant in bio-waste products, as chicken eggshells were found to be capable of powering batteries.
While there are many already looking into new power cell developments, organic flow batteries are among those that are promising in today's day and age, meant for large-capacity applications. China's Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has discovered a breakthrough for AOFBs with the new ORAMs, centering on air-stable energy storage for future applications.
