A polyoxometalate redox flow battery: Functionality and upscale

While redox flow batteries carry a large potential for electricity storage, specifically for regenerative energies, the current technology-prone system-the all-vanadium redox flow battery-exhibits two major disadvantages: low energy and low power densities. Polyoxometalates have the potential to mitigate both effects. In this publication, the operation of a polyoxometalate redox flow battery was demonstrated for the polyoxoanions [SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4- (SiW₁₂) in the anolyte and [PV₁₄O₄₂]^9- (PV₁₄) in the catholyte. Emphasis was laid on comparing to which extent an upscale from 25 to 1400 cm² membrane area may impede efficiency and operational parameters. Results demonstrated that the operation of the large cell for close to 3 months did not diminish operation and the stability of polyoxometalates was unaltered.