The effects of different membranes on the performance of aqueous organic redox flow battery using anthraquinone and TEMPO redox couple

In this study, the evaluation of performance of AORFB using anthraquinone derivative and TEMPO derivative as active materials in neutral supporting electrolyte with various membrane types was performed. Both anthraquinone derivative and TEMPO derivative showed high electron transfer rate (the difference between anodic and cathodic peak potential was 0.068 V) and the cell voltage is 1.17 V. The single cell test of the AORFB using 0.1 M active materials in 1 M KCl solution with using Nafion 212 membrane, which is commercial cation exchange membrane was performed, and the charge efficiency (CE) was 97% and voltage efficiency (VE) was 59%. In addition, the discharge capacity was 0.93 AhL-1 which is 35% of theoretical capacity (2.68 AhL-1) at 4th cycle and the capacity loss rate was 0.018 AhL-1/cycle during 10 cycles. The single cell tests were performed with using Nafion 117 membrane and SELEMION CSO membrane. However, the results were more not good because of increased resistance because of thicker thickness of membrane and increased cross-over of active materials, respectively.