Research & Development of breakthrough Redox Flow Batteries

Abstract

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are a promising electrochemical energy storage technology that can be used to improve the ability of the grid to accommodate the intermittent nature of renewables thus promoting the energy transition. Compared to other battery systems, RFBs offer a unique feature of decoupled energy and power that allows tailoring the system for the desired application. Moreover, RFBs can potentially be low-cost and sustainable because they reach a very high number of cycles and can be based on earth abundant and environmentally friendly materials. This technology is, however, not mature yet and substantial R&D efforts are required to bring it to the industrialization level. Green Energy Storage (GES) is a small medium enterprise focused on the development of innovative RFB technologies. As such, GES R&D is working at the interface between physics and chemistry on the optimization of electrodes, catalysts and membranes, the development of innovative electrolyte formulations, and the discovery of novel electroactive materials. The latter challenge is being addressed by taking advantage of cutting-edge computational chemistry techniques, with particular regard to the design of organic-based electrolytes. In fact, the chemistry of organic electrolytes allows to develop high-performance RFBs by maximizing properties such as solubility and redox potential through the engineering of the molecular structures. In the first part of the seminar, we will provide an overview of the different experimental research topics for the development of RFBs, focusing on the main results obtained by GES in the last months and on the open challenges that need to be tackled. The second part of the seminar will explore how existing computational chemistry techniques are being exploited in an industrial context for the prediction of the redox potential of organic electrolytes and the discovery of novel chemistries to be used as RFB redox couples. Moreover, we will address the current limitations affecting these techniques, which still prevent their widespread adoption in the industry.

About the speakers:

Green Energy Storage (GES) is an innovative Italian SME that produces green flow batteries for the stationary storage of energy from renewable sources. GES was founded in 2015 and is based in Trento and Rovereto. In the context of the IPCEI project (for which an individual contribution of 53 million euros has been recognized by the Ministry of Economic Development), the company is a candidate to play a leading role in the European value chain of batteries, developing an innovative solution that will be marketed on international markets. GES breakthrough technology consists of a hybrid redox flow battery based on a gas/liquid system that uses hydrogen gas as anolyte and a patented liquid electrolyte as catholyte. The design of GES storage system takes place entirely in-house, starting from the choice of non-toxic, safe and sustainable species for the electrolytes, to the choice of readily available materials for cells and battery body, and to the development of key elements such as membranes, electrodes and catalysts. The development of a smart Battery Management System software aims to improve the performance, safety and lifetime of GES storage systems in different operating modes.

Mattia F. Palermo, Master’s degree in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Bologna, earns a Ph.D. in computational chemistry at the Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, with a thesis on the modeling of liquid crystals through means of molecular dynamics simulations. Postdoc at the same department until 2016, he continues his professional career in the field of industrial coatings as an R&D chemist at Sherwin-Williams Italy. He takes on the role of Computational Chemistry Team Leader at GES since 2021.

Zakaria El Koura studied Experimental Physics at the University of Trento and completed his PhD with a thesis on the development of photocatalysts based on earth abundant and biocompatible materials for the production of hydrogen by solar water splitting in photoelectrochemical cells. After 6 years of experience in a biomedical company, he joined GES as Team Leader of Electrodes and Catalysts R&D group.

A Quantum of Matter

“A Quantum of Matter” è un appuntamento dedicato alla ricerca in Fisica della Materia che viene portata avanti nel nostro Dipartimento. L’obiettivo di “A Quantum of Matter” è sviluppare sinergie e collaborazioni tra i gruppi. Per questo motivo, nei seminari sarà posto l’accento non solo sui risultati ottenuti, ma anche sulle tecniche utilizzate e su possibili tematiche che potrebbero essere sviluppate in collaborazione, lasciando ampio spazio per il confronto e la discussione.