Issue 11, 2017

Solar energy conversion, storage, and release using an integrated solar-driven redox flow battery

Abstract

We have conceptualized and demonstrated a device that combines the functions of a solar photovoltaic cell and a redox flow battery, which we call the solar flow battery (SFB). Our lab-scale device is based on a crystalline n-WSe2 light absorber, carbon auxiliary electrodes, an iodide positive electrolyte, and an anthraquinone sulfonate negative electrolyte. We have designed a two-compartment flow cell and used it to independently characterize the electrochemical properties of the electrolytes, the photoelectrochemical properties of the n-WSe2 absorber, and the charge–discharge performance of the full SFB. Our WSe2-based SFB is as simple to construct as a water-splitting photoanode assembly, but it exhibits markedly higher energy conversion efficiency and also accommodates time-shifted recovery of the stored energy as electricity.

Graphical abstract: Solar energy conversion, storage, and release using an integrated solar-driven redox flow battery

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Jan 2017
Accepted
08 Feb 2017
First published
23 Feb 2017

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017,5, 5362-5372

Solar energy conversion, storage, and release using an integrated solar-driven redox flow battery

J. R. McKone, F. J. DiSalvo and H. D. Abruña, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 5362 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA00555E

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