Liquid flow battery group of the Institute of Chemical Physics in Rotterdam the Netherlands

Are flow batteries the future of energy storage?

Realizing decarbonization and sustainable energy supply by the integration of variable renewable energies has become an important direction for energy development. Flow batteries (FBs) are currently one of the most promising technologies for large-scale energy storage. This review aims to provide a comprehen ChemSocRev – Highlights from 2023

How redox chemistry has evolved in flow batteries?

From the zinc-bromide battery to the alkaline quinone flow battery, the evolution of RFBs mirrors the advancement of redox chemistry itself, from metal-centred reactions to organic molecular designs 57. A range of novel redox species and design concepts have been proposed and developed for next-generation flow batteries in recent years.

When were flow batteries invented?

Flow batteries were first proposed in the early 1880s and have since undergone many developments 11. Figure 1a illustrates the general configuration of conventional RFBs and basic working principles. RFBs work in a distinctly different fashion to Li-ion batteries.

How can a flow battery increase energy density?

To increase energy density, metal deposition chemistry, with low redox potentials and high capacity, can be adapted to combine with the flow battery (Fig. 1b); these technologies are called hybrid RFBs 12. For example, Li-metal-based flow batteries can achieve a voltage of over 3 V, which is beneficial for high-energy systems.