Shane Liu

Exchange Graduate Student
B.S. Tianjin University, Tianjin, China. Major: Materials Chemistry
M.S. Tianjin University, Tianjin, China. Major: Industry Catalysis.
Research direction: Direct carbon fuel cell
Ph.D. Candidate Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Research direction: Vanadium Redox Flow Battery

lllme@umich.edu

Large-scale energy storage technologies have the potential to increase the flexibility of power systems and improve the response to a sudden demand of energy minimizing environmental damage. Redox flow batteries (RFB) are electrochemical energy storage devices that utilize the oxidation and reduction of two soluble redox couples for charging and discharging. They differ from conventional batteries in that the energy-bearing chemicals are not stored within the electrode surface, but in separate liquid reservoirs and pumped to the power converting device for either charging or discharging.

The objective of this work is to develop a novel non-aqueous redox flow battery with high power density and high efficiency. The development of electrolyte plays a major role in this study. The potential window of water is low and the decomposition reaction of water occurs over 1.23 V. Some organic solvent have high potential window, for example, the potential window of acetonitrile is around 6.0V. This allows much higher voltage outlet and high power outlet. Several metal organic species have been investigated in order to select a promising organic electrolyte.

Schematic of redox flow battery

Static redox battery being charged