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Three-phase Redox Flow Battery

Project description

Innovative technology for redox flow batteries

The high cost and poor performance of key components in redox flow batteries (RFB), especially the ion-exchange membrane, along with material toxicity and limited availability of vanadium compounds, hinder their widespread market adoption. The ERC-funded 3-Phase-BAT project will develop a membrane-free RFB that uses thermodynamics to separate electrolytes, eliminating the need for traditional membranes. This innovative system employs three immiscible liquid phases, with the top and bottom serving as redox electrolytes and the middle acting as an electrochemically ‘inert’ intermediary. By using less expensive organic redox compounds instead of vanadium, the project will resolve issues of low efficiency and self-discharge in flow batteries.

Objective

The high cost and poor performance of certain components of redox flow batteries (RFB) such as the ion-exchange membrane, along with material toxicity, fluctuating prices, and limited availability of vanadium active compounds, are hindering the widespread adoption of RFB in the market. Our 3-Phase-BAT ERC-PoC involves the development of a new type of membrane-free RFB which does not require the use of any membrane since the electrolytes are separated by thermodynamics eliminating the requirement for a physical barrier. Moreover, the vanadium species are replaced by organic redox compounds that are abundant, less expensive, and present tuneable properties. Specifically, 3-Phase-BAT proposes the use of a three-phase immiscible liquid system, where the top and bottom phases serve as redox electrolytes, separated by an electrochemically “inert” intermediate liquid phase that replaces the costly ion-exchange membrane.
This new technology builds upon insights gained from the MFreeB ERC-CoG project, led by Dr. Rebeca Marcilla, devoted to membrane-free RFBs using immiscible biphasic systems. The 3-Phase-BAT ERC-PoC aims to address challenges related to low efficiency and limited energy density by incorporating a third immiscible intermediate phase, effectively preventing the detrimental self-discharge commonly seen in flow battery technology. This ERC-PoC offers a tremendous opportunity to i) validate this novel technology, ii) explore scaling up as part of the technology transfer process, and iii) define an exploitation pathway to transition our 3-Phase-BAT technology from the lab to industry, with the goal of accelerating market access within 5 years.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2024-POC

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Host institution

Fundacion IMDEA Energia
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 150 000,00
Address
AVENIDA RAMON DE LA SAGRA 3
28935 Mostoles Madrid
Spain

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Region
Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost

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Beneficiaries (1)

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