Rechargeable Metal-Air Proton-Exchange Membrane Batteries for Renewable Energy Storage

Rechargeable proton-exchange membrane batteries that employ organic chemical hydrides as hydrogen-storage media have the potential to serve as next-generation power sources; however, significant challenges remain regarding the improvement of the reversible hydrogen-storage capacity. Here, we address this challenge through the use of metal-ion redox couples as energy carriers for battery operation. Carbon, with a suitable degree of crystallinity and surface oxygenation, was used as an effective anode material for the metal redox reactions. A Sn_0.9In_0.1P₂O₇-based electrolyte membrane allowed no crossover of vanadium ions through the membrane. The V⁴⁺/V³⁺, V³⁺/V²⁺, and Sn⁴⁺/Sn²⁺ redox reactions took place at a more positive potential than that for hydrogen reduction, so that undesired hydrogen production could be avoided. The resulting electrical capacity reached 306 and 258 mAh g^-1 for VOSO₄ and SnSO₄, respectively, and remained at 76 and 91 % of their respective initial values after 50 cycles.