Whether we are willing to admit it or not, we are all rather dependent on batteries. We mostly think about small batteries at the individual level—in our cell phones, watches, or laptops. But batteries can be used in technologies that support multiple people, like the hybrid car. As scientists develop batteries with larger energy storage capacity, we can begin to expand our outlook to even grander applications.
If batteries could be designed to safely store large amounts of energy, they could be integrated into the existing power grid. This type of integration could be used to store energy harvested from renewable sources such as solar and wind, and to smooth out sudden surges in demand. Recent advancements in a technology called redox-flow batteries (RFB) hold out a promise for scalable energy storage.
RFBs are composed of organic materials that are able to transport electrons (redox-active). Almost all RFBs are composed of two pools of liquid electrolyte separated by a membrane, which allows some ions to cross between the two liquids. In these systems, electrons then flow from the negatively charged liquid (anolyte) through to the positive charged liquid (catholyte). These electrons can either charge the system or be extracted for use. Since the key components of the batteries are liquid, things can be scaled up simply by making the holding tanks larger.
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