Solar power at the Massachusetts institute of technology, puts forward flow cell technology innovation, shrimp shell production electrode for energy storage

From the battery in the supply chain to eliminate rare, expensive or other problematic materials is an important goal, researchers all over the world to work hard.

when it comes to fixed energy storage is required to balance energy supply of intermittent renewable energy, the physical size of battery is relatively important facts in the material aspect opens up the possibility of more.

REDOX flow battery is competitive battery chemistry has seen the commercial application. Like many competitive solution, flow batteries are the typical features of carbon electrode, by a team led by scientists at the Massachusetts institute of technology have been studied the carbon source of alternative materials, are mainly considered waste.

the group claims to have made the chitin a vanadium REDOX flow battery, it described as & other; Polysaccharide, similar to the fiber, found in the exoskeleton of crustaceans and insects. ”

carbon electrode is to reduce the increase of REDOX reaction rate all vanadium oxide also influent flow cell ( VRFB） The cost of important steps. Biomass derived activated carbon ( AC） Has a broad prospect, because they can eliminate the modification after conventional common synthetic materials demand.

even though the initial efforts to show that these materials can enhance the performance of VRFB, China solar power network, but potential wide selection of cheap raw materials and synthetic route led to have different physical, chemical and electrochemical properties of electrical catalytic materials collection, which poses challenges to the development of universal design principle.

the sustainable chemistry and engineering of ACS in an article published in the journal, the paper introduces a biological activated carbon used in the research progress of vanadium REDOX flow battery.

chemical engineer at the Massachusetts institute of technology of research paper Francisco & middot; Martin - Martinez said: & other; Obviously, there are some carbon electrode can produce better performance, solar portal, but the key to the project from the waste in the production of such electrodes, in this case is extracted from shrimp shell of chitin. ” He said, adding that solar energy, due to the carbon electrode is usually comprehensive production, its predecessor material of low cost and sustainability, making it a highly attractive electrode selection.

to researchers interested in solar panels, electrode containing nitrogen and carbon based on chitin, they are integrated into the electrode structure, solar panels, can promote electron transfer between the vanadium ion, improve the battery performance.

the company said, they will continue to study biological materials in the field of energy applications, the chitin electrodes may also apply desalination equipment and super capacitor.