Aqueous redox flow batteries featuring improved cell design characteristics

• US 10,056,639 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Esswein, Arthur J., Reece, Steven Y., King, Evan R., Goeltz, John, Amadeo, Desiree D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eoff, Anca
• Application Number:
  US15/162,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20160268623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C07F 7/28 Titanium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9008 Organic or organo-metallic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/188 by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/20 Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible H01M8/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Provided are compositions having the formula M_nTi(L1)(L2)(L3) wherein L1 is a catecholate, and L2 and L3 are each independently selected from catecholates, ascorbate, citrate, glycolates, a polyol, gluconate, glycinate, hydroxyalkanoates, acetate, formate, benzoates, malate, maleate, phthalates, sarcosinate, salicylate, oxalate, a urea, polyamine, aminophenolates, acetylacetone or lactate; each M is independently Na, Li, or K; n is 0 or an integer from 1-6. Also provided are energy storage systems.

Claims

1. A composition comprising:

a titanium complex containing at least one unsubstituted catecholate ligand and at least one substituted catecholate, wherein at least one of the substituted catecholate ligands is a sulfonated catecholate ligand; and

sodium and potassium counterions.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the titanium complex contains a hydroxycatecholate ligand.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the titanium complex contains two unsubstituted catecholate ligands and the one sulfonated catecholate ligand.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the titanium complex contains one unsubstituted catecholate ligand, one sulfonated catecholate ligand, and at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of, ascorbate, citrate, glycolate, a polyol, gluconate, glycinate, a hydroxyalkanoate, acetate, formate, benzoate, malate, maleate, phthalate, sarcosinate, salicylate, oxalate, a urea, a polyamine, an aminophenolate, acetylacetonate, and lactate.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the sodium and potassium counterions are present in substantially equal molar amounts.

6. An aqueous solution comprising the composition of claim 1.

7. The aqueous solution of claim 6, wherein the titanium complex has a concentration of at least about 0.5 M in the aqueous solution.

8. The aqueous solution of claim 6, wherein the titanium complex contains a hydroxycatecholate ligand.

9. The aqueous solution of claim 6, wherein the titanium complex contains two unsubstituted catecholate ligands and one sulfonated catecholate ligand.

10. The aqueous solution of claim 6, wherein the titanium complex contains one unsubstituted catecholate ligand, one sulfonated catecholate ligand, and at least-one ligand selected from the group consisting of ascorbate, citrate, glycolate, a polyol, gluconate, glycinate, a hydroxyalkanoate, acetate, formate, benzoate, malate, maleate, phthalate, sarcosinate, salicylate, oxalate, a urea, a polyamine, an aminophenolate, acetylacetonate, and lactate.

11. The aqueous solution of claim 6, wherein substantially equal molar quantities of the sodium and potassium counterions are present.

12. A flow battery comprising:

a first half-cell containing a first electrolyte solution; and

a second half-cell containing a second electrolyte solution;

wherein at least one of the first electrolyte solution and the second electrolyte solution comprises the aqueous solution of claim 6.