Demonstration of 2.5kW/10kWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) through rationally designed high energy density electrolytes and Membrane-Electrode Assembly (MEA)

ITN Energy Systems, Inc. (ITN) is proposing demonstration and deployment of 2.5kW/10kWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) technology through a multi-faceted effort based on 1) Novel V-electrolytes based on Fluorinated Carboxylates, 2) Low-cost (and superior) proton exchange membrane and 3) “zero-gap” membrane-electrode assembly. The Fluorinated V-carboxylates are a new class of V-salts with the potential for high energy density V-electrolytes. The low-cost membrane technology, based on the renewable biopolymer chitosan and ITN’s proprietary cross-linking process has already demonstrated superior properties (higher proton conduction & lower V-permeability) than Nafion®. This membrane is an ideal low-cost alternative for Nafion® in VRFB applications. Such a synergistic approach has the highest potential to demonstrate an economically viable VRBF technology and address the ever-increasing demand for electrical energy storage, especially from renewable sources.