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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
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A Protocol for Electrochemical Evaluations and State of Charge Diagnostics of a Symmetric Organic Redox Flow Battery
Published on: February 13, 2017
Geometric-Topology-Driven Membrane Design for Suppressing Polysulfide Crossover in Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries
Mengxiang Zhang1, Qi Xi1, Hualin Ye1
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 4, 2026
Summary
Geometric topology controls membrane microstructure and hydration in aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs). Membranes with 0D motifs prevent swelling and crossover, enabling stable, high-efficiency ARFB operation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs) face challenges with ion-exchange membrane selectivity.
- Membrane swelling due to hydration causes non-selective water channels, increasing active species crossover.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of geometric topology in membrane microstructure and hydration.
- Develop a geometry-guided design principle for highly selective ion-exchange membranes.
Main Methods:
- Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to model membrane hydration and phase separation.
- Fabrication and testing of membranes incorporating different geometric motifs (0D, 1D, 2D).
Main Results:
- 0D geometric motifs promote interconnected, confined hydration networks, enhancing selectivity.
- Anisotropic motifs (1D, 2D) lead to phase separation and voids, increasing crossover.
- A membrane with 0D motifs achieved >700 h stable operation with >99.5% Coulombic efficiency and 138 mW cm⁻² power density.
Conclusions:
- Geometric topology is a critical, overlooked parameter for designing selective ion-exchange membranes.
- Geometry-guided design significantly improves ARFB performance by controlling hydration and preventing crossover.
- This approach offers a pathway for advanced membrane engineering in energy storage applications.
