The University of Wisconsin-Madison has unveiled a groundbreaking development in renewable energy storage . Researchers led by Dawei Feng have designed a water-soluble chemical additive that dramatically improves bromide-based aqueous flow batteries, overcoming critical technical barriers.
Flow batteries: Safe and sustainable solution
Solar and wind energy have transformed power generation, but their intermittent nature demands efficient storage solutions. Lithium-ion batteries currently dominate this market, but they face challenges such as security risks and a limited supply chain . This is where aqueous flow batteries present significant advantages: they are safe, scalable and sustainable.
Unlike expensive vanadium batteries, bromide, a cheap and abundant ion, promises to be a viable alternative. However, its implementation in flow batteries has been problematic due to efficiency losses, deposit formation and generation of toxic gases. The university team addressed these limitations through an innovative molecular design.
A multifunctional additive
The team developed “soft-hard zwitterionic scavengers,” molecules that encapsulate bromide ions, preventing their passage through membranes and stabilizing them in the electrolyte . This approach improves the longevity and efficiency of the batteries, achieving two months of continuous operation without failure, compared to an average of one day in devices without the additive.
With clear industrial potential, Flux XII , a spin-off company from the research, will lead the commercialisation of the additive. This breakthrough optimises energy storage and also enhances safety and sustainability in large-scale systems.
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Source and photos: University of Wisconsin-Madison
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