A highly proton-conductive and vanadium-rejected long-side-chain sulfonated polybenzimidazole membrane for redox flow battery

Construction and Investigation of Novel Cross-Linked Fluorine-Containing Sulfonated Polyimide Membranes for VFB Application

Membrane with remarkable proton conductance and selectivity plays a key role in obtaining high vanadium flow battery (VFB) performance. In this work, the trade-off effect between proton conductance and vanadium ion blocking was overcome by the introduction of a cross-linking structure to prepare covalent cross-linked fluorine-containing sulfonated polyimide (CFSPI-PVA) membranes. Herein, the CFSPI-PVA-15 membrane possesses excellent comprehensive properties, including acceptable area resistance (0.21 Ω cm2), lower vanadium ion permeability (0.76 × 10-7 cm2 min-1), and remarkable proton selectivity (3.11 × 105 min cm-3) compared with the commercial Nafion 212 membrane. At the same time, the CFSPI-PVA-15 membrane exhibits higher coulomb efficiencies (97.26%-99.34%) and energy efficiencies (68.65%-88.11%) and a longer self-discharge duration (29.2 h) in contrast with the Nafion 212 membrane. Moreover, 500 cycles of the CFSPI-PVA-15 membrane at 160 mA cm-2 are also stably executed. The internal reasons for the improved chemical stability of the CFSPI-PVA-15 membrane are clarified from theoretical calculations with the mean square displacement value and fractional free volume. Therefore, the CFSPI-PVA-15 membrane exhibits great potential for application in VFB.

Development of Membranes and Separators to Inhibit Cross-Shuttling of Sulfur in Polysulfide-Based Redox Flow Batteries: A Review

The global rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources necessitates the implementation of long-duration energy storage technologies owing to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. Therefore, the deployment of grid-scale energy storage systems is inevitable. Sulfur-based batteries can be exploited as excellent energy storage devices owing to their intrinsic safety, low cost of raw materials, low risk of environmental hazards, and highest theoretical capacities (gravimetric: 2600 Wh/kg and volumetric: 2800 Wh/L). However, sulfur-based batteries exhibit certain scientific limitations, such as polysulfide crossover, which causes rapid capacity decay and low Coulombic efficiency, thereby hindering their implementation at a commercial scale. In this review article, we focus on the latest research developments between 2012-2023 to improve the separators/membranes and overcome the shuttle effect associated with them. Various categories of ion exchange membranes (IEMs) used in redox batteries, particularly polysulfide redox flow batteries and lithium-sulfur batteries, are discussed in detail. Furthermore, advances in IEM constituents are summarized to gain insights into different fundamental strategies for attaining targeted characteristics, and a critical analysis is proposed to highlight their efficiency in mitigating sulfur cross-shuttling issues. Finally, future prospects and recommendations are suggested for future research toward the fabrication of more effective membranes with desired properties.

Fabrication of Tri-Directional Poly(2,5-benzimidazole) Membrane Using Direct Casting for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery

In vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), simultaneously achieving high proton conductivity, low vanadium-ion permeability, and outstanding chemical stability using electrolyte membranes is a significant challenge. In this study, we report the fabrication of a tri-directional poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (T-ABPBI) membrane using a direct casting method. The direct-cast T-ABPBI (D-T-ABPBI) membrane was fabricated by modifying the microstructure of the membrane while retaining the chemical structure of ABPBI, having outstanding chemical stability. The D-T-ABPBI membrane exhibited lower crystallinity and an expanded free volume compared to the general solvent-cast T-ABPBI (S-T-ABPBI) membrane, resulting in enhanced hydrophilic absorption capabilities. Compared to the S-T-ABPBI membrane, the enhanced hydrophilic absorption capability of the D-T-ABPBI membrane resulted in a decrease in the specific resistance (the area-specific resistance of S-T-ABPBI and D-T-ABPBI membrane is 1.75 and 0.98 Ωcm2, respectively). Additionally, the D-T-ABPBI membrane showed lower vanadium permeability (3.40 × 10-7 cm2 min-1) compared to that of Nafion 115 (5.20 × 10-7 cm2 min-1) due to the Donnan exclusion effect. Owing to the synergistic effects of these properties, the VRFB assembled with D-T-ABPBI membrane had higher or equivalent coulomb efficiencies (>97%) and energy efficiencies (70-91%) than Nafion 115 at various current densities (200-40 mA cm-2). Furthermore, the D-T-ABPBI membrane exhibited stable performance for over 300 cycles at 100 mA cm-2, suggesting its outstanding chemical stability against the highly oxidizing VO2+ ions during practical VRFB operation. These results indicate that the newly fabricated D-T-ABPBI membranes are promising candidates for VRFB application.

A Maximization of the Proton Conductivity of Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Ketone) with Grafted Segments Containing Multiple, Flexible Propanesulfonic Acid Groups

To enhance the proton conductivity of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK), proton-conducting groups are required to be covalently connected to SPEEK and form proton-conducting channels. Herein, SPEEK fully grafted with segments containing multiple, flexible propanesulfonic acid groups (MS-SPEEK-102) is successfully prepared. Compared with SPEEK, MS-SPEEK-102 exhibits a higher proton conductivity of 8.3 × 10^-2  S cm^-1 at 80 °C with 98% relative humidity, and consequently a greater power density of 0.530 W cm^-2 at 60 °C. These can be ascribed to the increased number of sulfonic acid groups, and ample, uninterrupted proton-conducting channels constructed by the movement of the maximum content, flexible side-chain segments. This approach offers an idea for obtaining a proton exchange membrane with good proton conductivity based on SPEEK.

Recent Advances in the Unconventional Design of Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Devices

As the world works to move away from traditional energy sources, effective efficient energy storage devices have become a key factor for success. The emergence of unconventional electrochemical energy storage devices, including hybrid batteries, hybrid redox flow cells and bacterial batteries, is part of the solution. These alternative electrochemical cell configurations provide materials and operating condition flexibility while offering high-energy conversion efficiency and modularity of design-to-design devices. The power of these diverse devices ranges from a few milliwatts to several megawatts. Manufacturing durable electronic and point-of-care devices is possible due to the development of all-solid-state batteries with efficient electrodes for long cycling and high energy density. New batteries made of earth-abundant metal ions are approaching the capacity of lithium-ion batteries. Costs are being reduced with the advent of flow batteries with engineered redox molecules for high energy density and membrane-free power generating electrochemical cells, which utilize liquid dynamics and interfaces (solid, liquid, and gaseous) for electrolyte separation. These batteries support electrode regeneration strategies for chemical and bio-batteries reducing battery energy costs. Other batteries have different benefits, e.g., carbon-neutral Li-CO2 batteries consume CO2 and generate power, offering dual-purpose energy storage and carbon sequestration. This work considers the recent technological advances of energy storage devices. Their transition from conventional to unconventional battery designs is examined to identify operational flexibilities, overall energy storage/conversion efficiency and application compatibility. Finally, a list of facilities for large-scale deployment of major electrochemical energy storage routes is provided.

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Swelling-Induced Quaternized Anthrone-Containing Poly(aryl ether ketone) Membranes with Low Area Resistance and High Ion Selectivity for Vanadium Flow Batteries

A vanadium flow battery (VFB) is one of the most promising electrochemical energy storage technologies. However, membranes for VFBs still suffer from high cost or low conductivity and poor stability. Here, we report new quaternized anthrone-containing poly(aryl ether ketone) (QAnPEK) membranes for VFBs. QAnPEK membranes with moderate ion exchange capacity (1.26 mmol g^-1) were swelling-induced in H₃PO₄ (50 wt %) to form wider ion transport pathways that significantly enhanced membrane conductivity (e.g., 0.49 Ω cm² for the QAnPEK-virgin membrane and 0.12 Ω cm² for the swelling-induced QAnPEK-90 membrane). The bulky rigid anthrone-containing backbone provided high swelling resistance and enabled QAnPEK membranes to have high ion selectivity. As a result, QAnPEK membranes displayed low area resistance, high ion selectivity, and robust mechanical strength. The QAnPEK-90 membrane yielded excellent energy efficiencies (92.4% at 80 mA cm^-2, 85.1% at 200 mA cm^-2, and 80.3% at 280 mA cm^-2). Moreover, QAnPEK membranes exhibited outstanding in situ and ex situ stability, for example, the VFB with the QAnPEK-40 membrane demonstrated highly stable battery performance for 3000 cycles at 160 mA cm^-2. QAnPEK membranes are attractive candidates for VFB application.

Robust Adamantane-Based Membranes with Enhanced Conductivity for Vanadium Flow Battery Application

Membranes with high conductivity, high selectivity, and high stability are urgently needed for high-power-density vanadium flow batteries (VFBs). Enhancing membrane conductivity presents many challenges, often resulting in sacrificing membrane selectivity and mechanical strength. To overcome this, new robust adamantane-based membranes with enhanced conductivity are constructed for VFB. Low-content basic piperazine (IEC = 0.78 mmol g⁻¹) and hydrophilic hydroxyl groups are introduced into highly rigid, hydrophobic adamantane containing poly(aryl ether ketone) backbone (PAPEK) and then selectively swelled to induce microphase separation and form ion transport pathways. The highly rigid and hydrophobic PAPEK exhibits high swelling resistance and provides the membranes with slight swelling, high selectivity, and high mechanical strength. The selective swelling temperature has a significant influence on the areal resistance of the resulting membrane, e.g., the PAPEK-130 membrane, when selectively swelled at 130 °C, has low areal resistance (0.22 Ω∙cm²), which is approximately two-fifths that of the PAEKK-60 membrane (treated at 60 °C, 0.57 Ω∙cm²). Consequently, the resulting PAPEK membranes exhibit low swelling, high selectivity, and low areal resistance, with the VFB constructed with a PAPEK-90 membrane exhibiting excellent energy efficiency (91.7%, at 80 mA∙cm⁻², and 80.0% at 240 mA∙cm⁻²) and stable cycling performance for 2000 cycles.

Composite Polybenzimidazole Membrane with High Capacity Retention for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

Currently, energy storage technologies are becoming essential in the transition of replacing fossil fuels with more renewable electricity production means. Among storage technologies, redox flow batteries (RFBs) can represent a valid option due to their unique characteristic of decoupling energy storage from power output. To push RFBs further into the market, it is essential to include low-cost materials such as new generation membranes with low ohmic resistance, high transport selectivity, and long durability. This work proposes a composite membrane for vanadium RFBs and a method of preparation. The membrane was prepared starting from two polymers, meta-polybenzimidazole (6 μm) and porous polypropylene (30 μm), through a gluing approach by hot-pressing. In a vanadium RFB, the composite membrane exhibited a high energy efficiency (~84%) and discharge capacity (~90%) with a 99% capacity retention over 90 cycles at 120 mA·cm^-2, exceeding commercial Nafion^® NR212 (~82% efficiency, capacity drop from 90% to 40%) and Fumasep^® FAP-450 (~76% efficiency, capacity drop from 80 to 65%).

The preparation of novel sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone sulfone)/TiO2 composite membranes with low methanol permeability for direct methanol fuel cells

A sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone sulfone) (SPAEKS) with locally dense sulfonic acid groups is synthesized and different amounts of TiO2 is doped into SPAEKS matrix to prepare composite membranes (SPAEKS/TiO2-x). SEM shows that TiO2 in the composite membranes has good dispersibility when TiO2 content is not higher than 3%. The composite membranes show good mechanical properties, dimensional stability and oxidative stability. The proton conductivity of composite membranes is near to that of Nafion 117 membrane and methanol permeability of composite membranes is much lower than that of Nafion 117 membrane. Therefore, the proton selectivity of composite membranes is higher than that of Nafion 117 membrane. In particular, proton selectivity of SPAEKS/TiO2-3% (12.8 × 104 S s cm−3) is four times higher than that of Nafion 117 membrane (3.2 × 104 S s cm−3).