Journal of Physical Chemistry & Biophysics
Open Access

High voltage aqueous redox flow batteries

3^rd International Conference on Electrochemistry

July 10-11, 2017 Berlin, Germany

Ruiyong Chen

Saarland University, Germany

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Phys Chem Biophys

Abstract :

Redox flow batteries are promising for large-scale energy storage applications due to their economy and scalability, in comparison with other energy storage systems. In addition, redox flow batteries have unique character of decoupled energy storage and power generation capability. Aqueous redox flow battery systems may offer safe operation, low cost and fast ionic mobility (power generation) in comparison with non-aqueous systems. However, due to the limits in the electrochemical stability window of water, aqueous systems can generally only be operated with low cell voltage (<1.5 V). Conventional aqueous flow batteries have thus low energy density (<30 Wh L-1), which is far below that for Li-ion batteries. Non-aqueous electrolytes using organic solvents, although can offer wide electrochemical window, suffer from low ionic conductivity, low solubility for active species and safety concerns. To access high cell voltage in aqueous systems, Chen et al., have recently developed new aqueous ionic liquid electrolytes with widened electrochemical window of about 3 V, using a concentrated aqueous solution of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMImCl). Herein, we explore various ionic liquid-based electrolytes and compatible redox couples (soluble species and semi-solid suspension utilizing solid-state cation/anion intercalation reactions) in the attempt to obtain redox flow batteries with high cell voltage and high energy density.

Biography :

Ruiyong Chen received his PhD degree in 2011 in Physical Chemistry from the Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany. He is currently a Habilitation Candidate at the Saarland University and a Project Leader at the KIST Europe. He has expertise in synthesis and characterization of electrode materials for energy storage systems and energy-efficient electrolysis. He has developed new two lithium intercalation cathode materials with disordered rock-salt structure for improving reversible capacity (up to 400 mAh g-1) for lithium ion batteries. He is currently developing new high voltage aqueous electrolytes for stationary energy storage using redox flow batteries.

Email: r.chen@kist-europe.de