In a significant stride towards accelerating renewable energy solutions, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a miniaturized flow battery test system. This compact innovation, dubbed the ‘mini flow cell’, promises to revolutionize the energy storage research landscape by reducing the time and resources required for each test while maintaining comparable performance to its larger counterpart. The miniaturization of experimental systems could potentially expedite the discovery of new grid energy storage technology, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
The mini flow cell, roughly the size of a playing card, uses only milligrams of material, drastically reducing the time and resources needed for each test. This breakthrough could significantly streamline the laborious trial-and-error process that has traditionally characterized the discovery of new materials for flow batteries. The team behind this innovation, led by materials scientist Ruozhu Feng, boasts over a decade of experience in flow battery cell design, engineering, skilled machining, and chemistry expertise.
Flow batteries, which store energy in chemical bonds, are a linchpin technology that captures energy from intermittent sources like wind and hydroelectric power for grid-scale applications. The miniaturized system could potentially address limitations of existing systems, such as high material costs, low power density, and the desire to source materials domestically in the United States.
The mini flow cell design is geared towards research laboratories focused on rapidly screening and developing new battery materials. However, it requires highly purified starting materials that are free from impurities that could clog the narrow channels and tubes. The team has applied for U.S. patent protection for their new battery design, and interested researchers can contact the commercialization team to learn more about collaboration or licensing opportunities.
This research was supported by the Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA), an Energy Innovation Hub funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences program, and by the Energy Storage Materials Initiative, a PNNL laboratory-directed strategic research investment. The ESRA unites leading experts from national laboratories and universities to pave the way for energy storage and next-generation battery discovery that will shape the future of power.
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