Flow Battery: From Automotive to Grid Energy Storage Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The technology of the flow battery has transformed the way we understand how electrical energy can be stored and converted at all relevant scales, from several kW to tens of MW. Enhanced energy storage performance, in both energy densities and rate capabilities contexts, can be seen in recent years and is attributed to the improvements in, and the discovery of: new battery materials and their chemistries, improved current collectors, longer lasting membrane separators, better mass transport, and an increasing awareness of cell design variants such as (i) bipolar cell stacks, (ii) undivided membrane-less cells, and more modern designs such as (iii) a semi-solid concept based on viscous slurries of particles, and (iv) a redox targeting concept based on mediation reactions.

This technology is notably employed in the NASA space exploratory mission and dates back to the 1970s. It has a long proven history to-date, and continues to offer a wealth of scientific and technological possibilities with different energy storage chemistry (e.g. aqueous electrolytes, deep eutectic solvents electrolytes, semi-solid Li-ion, redox mediated Li-ion, etc.). Although our comprehensive understanding of the underpinning electrochemical energy storage and conversion mechanisms, and the relevant fundamental aspects are still far from complete, this has clearly not prevented the use of this battery technology in academic and industrial aspects of energy storage.

This Special Issue calls for scientific research and review papers encompassing the above related areas, for applications in low carbon transports and storing / converting large scale ‘grid’ electricity from intermittent wind, wave and solar energies. Papers are invited to highlight developments in the field of traditional flow battery, and more advanced modern cell designs. Findings from research carried out in the lab at bench-scale and active collaborations with industrial partners are of interest. Accepted papers will be asked to highlight the relevant scientific and technical challenges, and progress that can be made into making viable devices for the real-world.

Assistant Professor Dr. John Low
Guest Editor

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