scholarly journals Prospects for Anion-Exchange Membranes in Alkali Metal–Air Batteries

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 4702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Misgina Tilahun Tsehaye ◽  
Fannie Alloin ◽  
Cristina Iojoiu

Rechargeable alkali metal–air batteries have enormous potential in energy storage applications due to their high energy densities, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Membrane separators determine the performance and economic viability of these batteries. Usually, porous membrane separators taken from lithium-based batteries are used. Moreover, composite and cation-exchange membranes have been tested. However, crossover of unwanted species (such as zincate ions in zinc–air flow batteries) and/or low hydroxide ions conductivity are major issues to be overcome. On the other hand, state-of-art anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) have been applied to meet the current challenges with regard to rechargeable zinc–air batteries, which have received the most attention among alkali metal–air batteries. The recent advances and remaining challenges of AEMs for these batteries are critically discussed in this review. Correlation between the properties of the AEMs and performance and cyclability of the batteries is discussed. Finally, strategies for overcoming the remaining challenges and future outlooks on the topic are briefly provided. We believe this paper will play a significant role in promoting R&D on developing suitable AEMs with potential applications in alkali metal–air flow batteries.

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1049
Author(s):  
Jinbei Yang ◽  
Guangkai Dai ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Shuai Pan ◽  
Gang Lu ◽  
...  

Diffusion dialysis (DD) employing anion exchange membranes (AEMs) presents an attractive opportunity for acid recovery from acidic wastewater. However, challenges exist to make highly acid permeable AEMs due to their low acid dialysis coefficient (Uacid). Here, a series of porous and highly acid permeable AEMs fabricated based on chloromethyl polyethersulfone (CMPES) porous membrane substrate with crosslinking and quaternization treatments is reported. Such porous AEMs show high Uacid because of the large free volume as well as the significantly reduced ion transport resistance relative to the dense AEMs. Compared with the commercial dense DF-120 AEM, our optimal porous AEM show simultaneous 466.7% higher Uacid and 75.7% higher acid/salt separation factor (Sacid/salt) when applied to acid recovery at the same condition. Further, considering the simple and efficient fabrication process as well as the low cost, our membranes show great prospects for practical acid recovery from industrial acidic wastewater.


2014 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 63-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Che-Nan Sun ◽  
Zhijiang Tang ◽  
Cami Belcher ◽  
Thomas A. Zawodzinski ◽  
Cy Fujimoto

RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 6029-6037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Di Lu ◽  
Lele Wen ◽  
Feng Nie ◽  
Lixin Xue

A serials of imidazolium functionalized poly(arylene ether sulfone) as anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRB) application are synthesized successfully in this study.


Author(s):  
Guixiang Wang ◽  
Haitao Zou ◽  
Xiaobo Zhu ◽  
Mei Ding ◽  
Chuankun Jia

Abstract Zinc-based redox flow batteries (ZRFBs) have been considered as ones of the most promising large-scale energy storage technologies owing to their low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. However, their commercial application is still hindered by a few key problems. First, the hydrogen evolution and zinc dendrite formation cause poor cycling life, of which needs to ameliorated or overcome by finding suitable anolytes. Second, the stability and energy density of catholytes are unsatisfactory due to oxidation, corrosion, and low electrolyte concentration. Meanwhile, highly catalytic electrode materials remain to be explored and the ion selectivity and cost efficiency of membrane materials demands further improvement. In this review, we summarize different types of ZRFBs according to their electrolyte environments including ZRFBs using neutral, acidic, and alkaline electrolytes, then highlight the advances of key materials including electrode and membrane materials for ZRFBs, and finally discuss the challenges and perspectives for the future development of high-performance ZRFBs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (21) ◽  
pp. 11240-11246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuwang Wu ◽  
Yingjie Du ◽  
Yousif Alsaid ◽  
Dong Wu ◽  
Mutian Hua ◽  
...  

Ice accumulation causes various problems in our daily life for human society. The daunting challenges in ice prevention and removal call for novel efficient antiicing strategies. Recently, photothermal materials have gained attention for creating icephobic surfaces owing to their merits of energy conservation and environmental friendliness. However, it is always challenging to get an ideal photothermal material which is cheap, easily fabricating, and highly photothermally efficient. Here, we demonstrate a low-cost, high-efficiency superhydrophobic photothermal surface, uniquely based on inexpensive commonly seen candle soot. It consists of three components: candle soot, silica shell, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brushes. The candle soot provides hierarchical nano/microstructures and photothermal ability, the silica shell strengthens the hierarchical candle soot, and the grafted low-surface-energy PDMS brushes endow the surface with superhydrophobicity. Upon illumination under 1 sun, the surface temperature can increase by 53 °C, so that no ice can form at an environmental temperature as low as −50 °C and it can also rapidly melt the accumulated frost and ice in 300 s. The superhydrophobicity enables the melted water to slide away immediately, leaving a clean and dry surface. The surface can also self-clean, which further enhances its effectiveness by removing dust and other contaminants which absorb and scatter sunlight. In addition, after oxygen plasma treatment, the surface can restore superhydrophobicity with sunlight illumination. The presented icephobic surface shows great potential and broad impacts owing to its inexpensive component materials, simplicity, ecofriendliness, and high energy efficiency.


2014 ◽  
Vol 454 ◽  
pp. 44-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Do-Hyeong Kim ◽  
Seok-Jun Seo ◽  
Myung-Jin Lee ◽  
Jin-Soo Park ◽  
Seung-Hyeon Moon ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Aldasheva

The article investigates the processes of preparing liquid fuel based on a mixture of coal from the Alai deposit (Kyrgyzstan) and water with the addition of other components, for combustion in various power plants and intended to replace organic fuels (solid fuel, fuel oil and gas). On the basis of the research results, a technological scheme for the preparation of coal-water fuel from the organic matter of the Alai deposit has been developed. Methods and technologies for the preparation of coal-water fuel are described. As a result, an efficient and energy-efficient method for producing coal-water fuel has been developed, which has a high energy potential, environmental friendliness, low cost, a wide range of applications and a fairly simple technology for its implementation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Luo ◽  
Bo Hu ◽  
Wenda Wu ◽  
Maowei Hu ◽  
Leo Liu

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) have been recognized as a promising option for scalable and dispatchable renewable energy storage (e.g. solar and wind energy). Zinc metal represents a low cost, high capacity anode material to develop high energy density aqueous redox flow batteries. However, the energy storage applications of traditional inorganic Zn halide flow batteries are primarily plagued by the material challenges of traditional halide cathode electrolytes (e.g. bromine) including corrosion, toxicity, and severe crossover. As reported here, we have developed a bipolar Zinc-ferrocene salt compound, Zinc 1,1’-bis(3-sulfonatopropyl)ferrocene, Zn[Fc(SPr)2] (1.80 M solubility or 48.2 Ah/L charge storage capacity) – a robust, energy-dense, bipolar redox-active electrolyte material for high performance Zn organic RFBs. Using a low-cost porous Daramic membrane, the Zn[Fc(SPr)2] aqueous organic redox flow battery (AORFB) has worked in dual-flow and single-flow modes. It has manifested outstanding current, energy, and power performance, specifically, operating at high current densities of up to 200 mA/cm2 and delivering an energy efficiency of up to 81.5% and a power density of up to 270.5 mW/cm2. A Zn[Fc(SPr)2] AORFB demonstrated an energy density of 20.2 Wh/L and displayed 100% capacity retention for 2000 cycles (1284 hr or 53.5 days). The Zn[Fc(SPr)2] ionic bipolar electrolyte not only offers record-setting, highly-stable, energy-dense, and the most powerful Zn-organic AORFBs to date, but it also provides a new paradigm to develop even more advanced redox materials for scalable energy storage.


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