HIGH ENERGY DENSITY REDOX FLOW DEVICE

• US 20110200848A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 24M Technologies, Inc., A123 Systems Incorporated, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: 24M Technologies, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Carter, W. Craig, Duduta, Mihai, Limthongkul, Pimpa, Ho, Bryan Y., Chiang, Yet-Ming
• Granted Patent: US 9,786,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/72 Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

Redox flow devices are described in which at least one of the positive electrode or negative electrode-active materials is a semi-solid or is a condensed ion-storing electroactive material, and in which at least one of the electrode-active materials is transported to and from an assembly at which the electrochemical reaction occurs, producing electrical energy. The electronic conductivity of the semi-solid is increased by the addition of conductive particles to suspensions and/or via the surface modification of the solid in semi-solids (e.g., by coating the solid with a more electron conductive coating material to increase the power of the device). High energy density and high power redox flow devices are disclosed. The redox flow devices described herein can also include one or more inventive design features. In addition, inventive chemistries for use in redox flow devices are also described.

Claims

1. A redox flow energy storage device, comprising:

a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector, and an ion-permeable membrane separating said positive and negative current collectors;

a positive electrode disposed between said positive electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane;

said positive electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane defining a positive electroactive zone accommodating said positive electrode;

a negative electrode disposed between said negative electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane;

said negative electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane defining a negative electroactive zone accommodating said negative electrode;

wherein at least one of said positive and negative electrode comprises electrode-active material comprising an insoluble flowable semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition or redox compound which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions and remains insoluble during operation of the cell.

2. The redox flow energy storage device of claim 1, wherein both of said positive and negative electrodes comprise said flowable semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox compositions.

3. The redox flow energy storage device of claim 1, wherein one of said positive and negative electrodes comprises said flowable semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition and the remaining electrode is a conventional stationary electrode.

6. The redox flow energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the ion is selected from the group consisting of Li⁺ or Na⁺ or H⁺ or Mg²⁺ or Al³⁺ or Ca²⁺.

8. The redox flow energy storage device of claim 1, wherein said flowable semi-solid ion-storing redox composition comprises a solid comprising an ion storage compound.

32. The redox flow energy storage device of claim 1, further comprising a storage tank for storing the flowable semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition, said storage tank in flow communication with the redox flow energy storage device.

55. The redox flow energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the flowable semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition is electronically conductive at a temperature at which the energy storage device is operated.

126. The redox flow energy storage device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the positive and negative electrode comprises an aqueous flowable semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition or redox compound.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

9-31. -31. (canceled)

33-54. -54. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

57. A redox flow energy storage device, comprising:

a first, outer electrode current collector, a second, inner electrode current collector disposed at least partially within the first electrode current collector, and an ion-permeable medium at least partially separating said first and second electrode current collectors;

a first electrode active material at least partially disposed between said first electrode current collector and said ion-permeable medium; and

a second electrode active material at least partially disposed between said second electrode current collector and said ion-permeable medium;

wherein at least one of said first and second electrode active materials comprises a fluid, and at least one of the first electrode current collector and the second electrode current collector is capable of being rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the other electrode current collector.

66. The redox flow energy storage device of claim 57, wherein at least one of the first and second electrode current collectors comprises protrusions extending toward an electrode from a surface proximate the electrode.

58-65. -65. (canceled)

67-70. -70. (canceled)

71. A flowable ion-storing redox composition for a redox flow energy storage device, the redox flow energy storage device comprising:

a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode active material, and an ion-permeable medium separating said positive and negative electrode active materials, wherein at least one of said positive and negative electrode active materials comprises the flowable ion-storing redox composition which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the device,

wherein said flowable ion-storing redox composition comprises at least one compound selected from a ketone;

a diketone;

a triether;

a compound containing 1 nitrogen and 1 oxygen atom;

a compound containing 1 nitrogen and 2 oxygen atoms;

a compound containing 2 nitrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom;

a phosphorous containing compound, and/or fluorinated, nitrile, and/or perfluorinated derivatives of these.

72-92. -92. (canceled)

93. A source of acoustic energy for a redox flow energy storage device, the redox flow energy storage device comprising:

a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode active material, and an ion-permeable medium separating said positive and negative electrode active materials, wherein at least one of said positive and negative electrode active materials comprises a flowable ion-storing redox composition which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the device,

wherein the flowable ion-storing redox composition comprises a solid, and said source of acoustic energy is constructed and arranged to inhibit the accumulation of the solid within the redox flow energy storage device and/or to reduce the viscosity of the flowable ion-storing redox composition within the redox flow energy storage device.

94. The source of acoustic energy of claim 93, wherein the source comprises a piezoelectric or electrostrictive actuator.

95-98. -98. (canceled)

99. An in-line sensor for a redox flow energy storage device, the redox flow energy storage device comprising:

a positive electrode active material,

a negative electrode active material,

an ion-permeable medium separating said positive and negative electrode active materials, wherein at least one of said positive and negative electrode active materials comprises a flowable ion-storing redox composition which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the device, and

an in-line sensor constructed and arranged to determine a property of the flowable ion-storing redox composition.

100. The in-line sensor of claim 99, wherein the in-line sensor diverts a portion of the flowable ion-storing redox composition from the redox flow energy storage device to an independent conduit to determine a property of the composition.

101-110. -110. (canceled)

111. A flowable ion-storing redox composition for a redox flow energy storage device, the redox flow energy storage device comprising:

a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode active material, and an ion-permeable medium separating said positive and negative electrode active materials, wherein at least one of said positive and negative electrode active materials comprises a flowable ion-storing redox composition which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the cell,

wherein the flowable ion-storing redox composition comprises an aqueous liquid carrier, and the ion comprises Li⁺ or Na⁺.

112. The flowable ion-storing redox composition of claim 111, wherein the ion comprises Na+.

113. A redox flow energy storage device, comprising:

a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode active material, and an ion-permeable medium separating said positive and negative electrode active materials, wherein at least one of said positive and negative electrode active materials comprises a flowable ion-storing redox composition which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the device; and

a source of mixing fluid in fluid communication with and/or located within a volume in which the flowable ion-storing redox composition is disposed, wherein the mixing fluid is immiscible with the flowable ion-storing redox composition.

114-118. -118. (canceled)

119. A redox flow energy storage device, comprising:

a first electrode active material of a first polarity;

a second electrode active material of a second, opposite polarity;

an ion-permeable medium separating the first and second electrode active materials, wherein at least one of the first and second electrode active materials comprises a flowable ion-storing redox composition which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the cell; and

a movable surface in contact with the flowable ion-storing redox composition, wherein the movable surface is constructed and arranged to at least partially direct the flow of the flowable ion-storing redox composition through the redox flow energy storage device.

121. The redox flow energy storage device, of claim 119, wherein the movable surface comprises a plurality of protrusions.

124. The redox flow energy storage device, of claim 119, wherein the movable surface is at least partially disposed within an electroactive zone of the redox flow energy storage device.

120. (canceled)

122. (canceled)

123. (canceled)

125. A flowable ion-storing redox composition for a redox flow energy storage device, the redox flow energy storage device comprising:

a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode active material, and an ion-permeable medium separating said positive and negative electrode active materials, wherein at least one of said positive and negative electrode active materials comprises the flowable semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the device,

wherein said flowable ion-storing redox composition comprises at least one of an ether, a ketone, a diether, diketone, an ester, a triether, a carbonate;

an amide, a sulfur containing compound;

a phosphorous containing compound, an ionic liquid, and fluorinated, nitrile, and/or perfluorinated derivatives of these.

127. A composition for a redox flow energy storage device, comprising a flowable ion-storing redox composition which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the device, wherein said flowable ion-storing redox composition comprises at least one compound selected from a ketone;

a diketone;

a triether;

a compound containing 1 nitrogen and 1 oxygen atom;

a compound containing 1 nitrogen and 2 oxygen atoms;

a compound containing 2 nitrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom;

a phosphorous containing compound, and/or fluorinated, nitrile, and/or perfluorinated derivatives of these.

128. A composition for a redox flow energy storage device, comprising a flowable semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition which is capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the device, wherein said flowable ion-storing redox composition comprises at least one of an ether, a ketone, a diether, diketone, an ester, a triether, a carbonate;

an amide, a sulfur containing compound;

a phosphorous containing compound, an ionic liquid, and fluorinated, nitrile, and/or perfluorinated derivatives of these.