Every groundbreaking technology starts from lab experiments. Assembling the small redox flow battery cells offers an opportunity to test all battery components, such as membranes, bipolar plates, sealings, and electrode materials, as well as the cell’s overall design. The insights gained from these tests pave the way for the application of proven materials in larger cells and commercial stacks.
In a collaborative effort with the Technical University of Košice, INO-HUB successfully designed and produced all the components of the second version of the INO-HUB small laboratory cell with a 50 cm2 electrode area. Modifications included a reduction in the amount of sealing material required and adjustments to flow channels, simplifying the battery assembly and minimizing the risk of leakage.
The assembly and testing of the new INO-HUB cell started at the University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik in Košice at the beginning of October 2023. A compelling proof of concept emerged from a long-term cycling experiment, comprising 500 charge-discharge cycles. The battery demonstrated a Coulombic Efficiency of 95% at a current density of 100 mA/cm2.
The stability exhibited by all battery components throughout the two-week laboratory test instills confidence in their suitability for large-scale applications.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
This work was supported by the project: IPCEI_IE_FLOW_BESS_012021