Publications

A polyoxometalate flow battery

Pratt, Harry P.; Hudak, Nicholas H.; Anderson, Travis M.

A redox flow battery utilizing two, three-electron polyoxometalate redox couples (SiV^V₃W^VI₉O₄₀^7–/SiV^IV₃W^VI₉O₄₀^10- and SiV^IV₃W^VI₉O₄₀^10-/SiV^IV₃W^V₃W^VI₆O₄₀^13-) was investigated for use in stationary storage in either aqueous or non-aqueous conditions. The aqueous battery had coulombic efficiencies greater than 95% with relatively low capacity fading over 100 cycles. Infrared studies showed there was no decomposition of the compound under these conditions. The non-aqueous analog had a higher operating voltage but at the expense of coulombic efficiency. The spontaneous formation of these clusters by self-assembly facilitates recovery of the battery after being subjected to reversed polarity. Polyoxometalates offer a new approach to stationary storage materials because they are capable of undergoing multi-electron reactions and are stable over a wide range of pH values and temperatures.