Electrolyte for inexpensive and high-performing zinc batteries

This technology is a water-based electrolyte for low-cost enhancement of zinc bromide battery performance and longevity.

Unmet Need: Low-cost components to enhance zinc bromide battery performance

Zinc bromide batteries are a promising technology for high density, long cycle life energy storage to meet the growing demands of advanced electronics, transportation, and renewable energy. Critical to the performance of zinc bromide batteries is the effective maintenance of a high magnitude ion density gradient. Currently, this relies on costly components such as ion exchange membranes, pumps, and complexing agents.

The Technology: Low-cost electrolyte solution for improving zinc bromide battery performance

This technology is a water-based electrolyte which provides a low-cost means of improving zinc bromide battery performance. The electrolyte solution contains zinc bromide salt as the primary reaction agent, with additional agents to enhance conductivity and density gradient magnitude while preventing corrosive diffusion.

This technology has been prototyped and validated for long-term operation (1000 cycles) with stable efficiencies (>90% coulombic and >60% energy).

Applications:

Advanced personal electronics
Building and grid energy storage
Renewable energy
Telecommunications
Transportation

Advantages:

Increased density gradient for high performance
Cost-effective without need for ion exchange membranes, pumps, and/or complexing agents
Long-lasting with high energy density

Lead Inventor:

Daniel Steingart, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

Related Publications:

Biswas S, Senju A, Mohr R, Hodson T, Karthikeyan N, Knehr KW, Hsieh AG, Yang X, Koel BE, Steingart DA. “Minimal architecture zinc–bromine battery for low cost electrochemical energy storage” Energy Environ Sci. 2017; 10(1): 114-20.

Tech Ventures Reference:

IR CU21036
Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu