Scientists Find A Way To Make Batteries Store More Renewable Energy

The transfer from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is considered an important movement to protect the environment. However, this approach has difficulty in implementing green solutions on a large scale. It seems that we need other solutions to store natural energy like wind and solar ones when they are not available so that electricity can be produced and used continuously. 

Scientists researching renewable energy are mainly concentrating on a battery type named flow battery, which is used for storing energy. Special, the electricity is kept in a liquid electrolyte tank. However, researchers are facing a cost-effectiveness problem on a large scale basis for power grids. 

To help solve the problem, researchers from Berkeley have developed a cost-effective battery membrane. The membrane is one of the battery's parts that split up cathode as well as anode. Previous fuel cells were attached with fluorinated membranes, however, they cost a lot and are not for flow battery usage. Instead, researchers have developed a new membrane that is specifically designed for flow batteries made with AquaPIMS polymers.

A special feature of AquaPIM membranes is that they can work with many different types of battery chemicals, such as metals, organics or polymers. They can also produce more stable cells over long-term periods. Additionally, they are much cheaper as compared to the regular fluorinated polymer membranes, which accounts for 15 to even 20 percent of battery costs.

The development of new membranes set the stage for less expensive and more qualified flow batteries for electric grids. Ultimately, it will address the provision of energy supply to every family anywhere in the country with wind and solar renewable energy sources.