Zinc-Redox Battery: A Technology Update

摘要

Since 1977, scientists at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Inc., have been developing the Zinc-Redox Battery for large-scale electrical energy storage. The current state of technology for this battery has demonstrated a number of positive features: (1) high energy efficiency (82.6 +- 4.4%) demonstrated for more than 754 cycles with a low-cost alpha -methyl styrene membrane; (2) minimal environmental concerns because the only toxic reactant is 2N sodium hydroxide, and thus low projected balance-of-plant costs; and (3) good cell performance over a wide range of discharge rates with cell IR being the main determinant of energy efficiency. Current studies have focused upon zinc electrode performance parameters, high current density discharge evaluation, and low-cost membrane cycle-life performance. (ERA citation 12:043385)