Redox Flow BatteriesRedox flow batteries (RFBs) are a rapidly...

Redox Flow Batteries

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are a rapidly emerging electricity storage technology and are an attractive alternative to lithium-ion batteries. RFBs operate by circulating positively and negatively-charged liquid electrolyte solutions through porous electrodes held on opposite sides of an ion-exchange membrane. Ions migrate from the negative electrode to the positive electrode via the membrane, while electrons flow from the negative solution to the negative electrode, through an external circuit to the positive electrode, and then to the positive solution.

RFBs can be operated as fuel cell, by replacing spent electrolyte with fresh electrolyte, or like a rechargeable battery, by applying an electric current to the system to regenerate the electrolyte solutions. The amount of energy stored can be scaled by changing the electrolyte tank volume. In some applications, RFBs can also provide a safer, more durable, and more scalable alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

Patent activity surrounding RFBs indicates that they are of increasing interest. Over the last 10 years, the number of patent families filed in the patent classification (called “cooperative patent class” or CPC) relating to RFBs³ has more than doubled in Europe and the United States (Figure I).⁴ Many of these filings cite vanadium/vanadate as the redox-active cation in their claims, which suggests that this is the electrode of choice for these types of cells. The popularity of this metal in RFBs is likely due to its high redox reversibility and consistent power output over multiple cycles.


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Global Trends in Battery Technology: A Patent Perspective - Withers & Rogers

As the drive towards renewable energy use gains pace, there has been an increase in global patent filings relating to battery technology. While lithium-ion batteries currently dominate the battery market, they have several disadvantages. For instance, the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries require

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