SBIR Phase I: ION Gate Membrane For High Performance Redox Flow Batteries

这个小企业创新研究的第一阶段项目将为氧化还原液流电池开发一种具有可控孔径的新型离子栅膜。氧化还原液流电池是最有前途的储能技术之一。然而，为了达到EES应用的整体系统成本目标，用于此类电池的最先进（SOA）膜的成本必须大幅降低。此外，SOA膜的离子选择性也很差，导致离子交叉，降低了电池的能量效率。在我们的方法中，超薄复合膜将被开发来解决这些问题。由于其薄的厚度，严格的孔径控制和材料选择，该膜有望具有优异的离子选择性，质子电导率和化学稳定性。一旦完全开发，它将能够满足EES应用的大规模氧化还原液流电池的严格要求。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力包括促进氧化还原液流电池作为低成本EES系统的广泛采用，并促进智能电网的快速部署。众所周知，为了满足日益增长的能源需求和减轻箔燃料使用对环境的影响，可再生能源在发电中变得越来越重要。然而，可再生能源，如风力发电，存在波动的缺点。为了缓解这个问题，智能电网正在被提出和开发。EES系统是智能电网的关键组成部分。预计这种电池的市场将迅速增长。根据一项研究，如果10%的风力发电厂采用EES， EES市场将达到520亿美元。我们的低成本、高性能离子栅膜是氧化还原液流电池的关键部件之一。这一突破将加速氧化还原液流电池在该市场的渗透。此外，这种创新膜的发展将有助于保持我国在这一重要领域的领先地位，创造新的商业机会和高科技工作岗位。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a novel ion gate membrane with controlled pore size for redox flow battery. Redox flow battery is one of the most promising electric energy storage (EES) technologies. However, the cost of the state-of-the-art (SOA) membrane used in such battery has to come down dramatically in order to reach the overall system cost target for EES applications. Moreover, the ion selectivity of the SOA membrane is also very poor, leading to ion cross-over and lower energy efficiency for the battery. In our approach, an ultra thin composite membrane will be developed to address the issues. Due to its thin thickness, tight pore size control and material selection, the membrane is expected to have excellent ion selectivity, proton conductivity and chemical stability. Once fully developed, it will be able to meet the stringent requirements of large scale redox flow batteries for EES applications.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes promoting the widespread adoption of redox flow battery as the low cost EES systems and facilitating the rapid deployment of smart grids. As we know, in order to satisfy the surging energy demand and mitigate the environment impact of foil fuel usage, renewable energy sources are becoming more and more important in the power generation. However, renewable energy sources, such as wind power, suffer the drawback of fluctuation. To mitigate the problem, smart grids are now being proposed and developed. The EES system is considered as the key components of the smart grids. The market for such batteries is expected to grow rapidly. According to a study, the EES market could reach $52 billion if 10% of wind plant adopts EES. Our low cost, high performance ion gate membrane is one of the key components for the redox flow battery. The breakthrough could accelerate the penetration of redox flow battery in this market. In addition, development of this innovative membrane will help maintain our nation's leading position in this important field, creating new business opportunities and high tech jobs.