Purdue University professors develop first membraneless flow battery

The rapid development of electric vehicles puts ever-increasing demands on fast charging technology. Purdue University invented a fast-charged battery that allows charging to be as fast as refueling. It is almost "quickly acceptable."

Although many people see the benefits of electric vehicles, which are environmentally friendly and cheap, they still choose gasoline-powered vehicles. One of the reasons is that electric vehicles are too troublesome to charge. In addition to the fact that the charging piles are not everywhere, the distribution area is not as wide as the gas station. Another key factor is that the charging rate is too slow, and it is far more abominable than refuelling.

No one hopes to be on the road halfway because there is no electricity suddenly stopping in one place for an hour of electricity before continuing. However, if charging can also be as fast as refueling, the drawbacks of electric vehicles are almost offset.

Purdue University professors have developed a new battery that can achieve this goal. These scientists are also the founders of Ifbattery.

They developed a fuel cell that recharged the battery by replacing the electrolyte. In other words, the used electrolyte is replaced with a new electrolyte. As a result, charging time is greatly reduced, and there is no need to build a lot of charging facilities.

This is a kind of mobile battery. The main feature of the flow battery is that the electrolyte solution can be adjusted outside the battery through the circulating flow of the electrolyte solution to maintain the concentration of the solution around the internal electrode of the battery.

The company's third co-founder, Professor Mike Mueterthies of Purdue University, said that although there are other mobile batteries on the market, Ifbattery is the first company to remove the membrane.

Taking a typical proton exchange membrane fuel cell as an example, it is in principle equivalent to a "reverse" device for water electrolysis. Proton exchange membranes are one of the core components of this fuel cell. It is a selective permeation membrane that allows only H+ to pass through, while the electrons that H2 loses pass through the wire, completing the chemical reactions required by the cell.

Membrane fouling can shorten the life of the battery and pose a risk of fire. Thanks to the elimination of the exchange membrane, Ifbattery's batteries can be safely stored at home and provide sufficient security at both ends of production and sales.

Replacing the electrolyte is certainly a pleasure for the driver. However, the next question is, how to deal with waste electrolytes?

According to reports, these waste electrolytes can absorb solar energy, and they can be sent to solar farms, wind turbines or hydropower stations for power supply in bulk form. This can be reused many times.

He believes that this technology can replace many of today's energy supply systems, including underground pipeline systems, railways, trucks, gas stations and refineries.

At present, the market for electric vehicles is rapidly developing. In April 2017, global sales of electric vehicles increased by 30% year-on-year, and sales reached 68,116 units, while accumulated sales increased by 36% year-on-year to 258,985 units. At this rate, the global electric vehicle sales this year are expected to exceed the 1 million mark.

As a kind of electric vehicle, fuel cell vehicles have neither the limitation of charging nor the environmental protection of gasoline vehicles. Now they are getting more and more recognition. Many Japanese car companies have invested in this area.

In the United States, GM and Honda have partnered to establish a factory in Michigan that will introduce the next generation of propulsion systems for fuel cell vehicles.

In addition, 11 companies including Honda, Nissan and Toyota have signed a memorandum of understanding to help expand Japan's fuel cell (auto) market. Their goal is to install 160 hydrogen fuel stations throughout Japan by 2020, and to drive 40,000 fuel cell vehicles on the road in the same year.

In the process of the rise of fuel cell vehicles, it is unclear whether this membraneless flow battery developed by Purdue professors can achieve their ambitious goals, but we believe that at least one can expand this market. Contribution, to provide consumers with a new choice. (Liang Feng)