The devices could be used to improve energy storage capabilities

Jan 9, 2014 12:47 GMT  ·  By

A team of investigators in the United States announces the development of an aqueous flow-type battery that relies on the electrochemical properties of an organic molecule that is eerily similar to one found in the common rhubarb. The molecule in question is called quinone, the team says. 

Researchers based at the Harvard University say that flow batteries such as this one were first developed around 30 years ago. These devices work by substituting liquid electrolytes to the solid electrodes used in conventional batteries, IEEE Spectrum reports.

High manufacturing costs have always prevented flow batteries from entering mainstream use, largely due to the high costs of metals, such as vanadium, that have to be used in their construction. The Harvard battery does away with any metals, so it can theoretically be produced at much lower costs.

“The whole world of electricity storage has been using metal ions in various charge states but there is a limited number that you can put into solution and use to store energy, and none of them can economically store massive amounts of renewable energy. With organic molecules, we introduce a vast new set of possibilities,” study author Roy Gordon explains.

Details of the new research appear in the January 9 issue of the top scientific journal Nature. The group reveals that it is currently investigating a series of other designs as well, which may finally see flow batteries reaching the marketplace soon.