Scientific Achievement
In this viewpoint, we recommend methodology for (1) testing aqueous organic flow batteries to better understand the fade mechanisms and failure modes, and for (2) techno-economic assessment of these batteries that incorporates the costs associated with electrolyte decay and replacement to articulate a feasible design space for the community to target.
Significance and Impact
Active species cost and decay rate are shown to be important, but presently uncertain parameters that will be significant in determining the economic viability of aqueous organic flow batteries.
Research Details
- Potentiostatic cycling of symmetric cells with capacity limiting and non-limiting sides allows better differentiation between calendar- and cycle-dominated fade of the electrolyte without the convoluting effects of cell degradation.
- Techno-economic analyses used a modified capital cost metric that incorporates the net present value of the annual electrolyte replacement costs to account for the long-term effects of electrolyte decay inherent to organic active species.
