Reliable, large-scale energy storage is essential for integrating renewable energy into the grid. Flow batteries are attractive for this purpose because they decouple energy storage from power delivery, but their use has been limited by low energy density. Redox targeting flow batteries offer a promising solution by using solid redox-active materials as the main storage medium (i.e., energy booster), charged/discharged indirectly by soluble mediators. A central challenge is ensuring that this stored capacity is accessible during operation.
Our work investigates how mediator choice and design influence capacity utilization of redox-active polymer particles. We study systems with one and two electrochemically active mediators, quantify their ability to access the polymeric particles, and validate a simple thermodynamic model. These results provide general guidelines for mediator selection and confirm model applicability under practical conditions.
Shrayesh Patel,
University of Chicago
Shrayesh Patel is an associate professor in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) at the University of Chicago and holds a joint appointment in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at Argonne National Lab. His research interests focus on polymers for sustainable energy systems. He is specifically interested in the fundamental understanding and the applications of charge transporting polymers (ions and/or electrons) on energy storage and conversion devices such as lithium-ion and beyond lithium-ion batteries, redox flow batteries, and thermoelectrics. Overall, his research expertise lies at the interface of polymers and electrochemistry. Shrayesh has received the ACS Polymers Au Rising Star Award (2022) and the ACS PMSE Early Stage Investigator Award (2023).