MIT researchers develop a new type of battery that promises to revolutionize the storage system for solar and wind energy sources

MIT researchers have developed a new battery aimed at solar and wind energy storage systems that may be more economical and efficient than ordinary batteries.

MIT researchers have created a new type of battery that promises to innovate in the storage system for clean sources such as solar energy and wind energy. The semi-solid flow cell uses a mixture that contains dispersed particles of manganese dioxide with an electrically conductive additive called “carbon black”. Together, such compounds allow the conversion of electrochemical electricity by reacting with other elements in aqueous suspension or on zinc plates, allowing the creation of flow batteries with more effective, reliable and long-lasting electricity retention systems than those currently manufactured. .

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Learn how MIT's new solar and wind power battery works

According to MIT study co-author Emre Gencer, the transition to sustainable energies like wind power and solar energy requires batteries with different lifespans that function properly when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. .

The zinc manganese rechargeable battery is a cost-effective option for such sources and can store energy for a day or more. In the flow system, two electrolytes with positive and negative ions are pumped in different tanks until they meet by passing through a membrane called a stack. The ion flows react with each other, transforming electrical energy generated by solar energy or wind energy into chemical energy to charge the batteries.

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The time it takes MIT batteries to discharge stored energy depends on the volume of positive and negative electrolyte solutions flowing through the cell. As long as movement is maintained, the batteries continue to supply electricity.

What is carbon black?

According to Thaneer Narayanan, chemical engineer and lead author of the MIT study, for storage longer than a day, the architecture of flow batteries suggests they may be more of a cost-effective option. There is the possibility of recharging the solution in the tanks through solar energy sources or wind energy, making the system carbon free.

According to Thaneer, carbon black is a paste that adds pigment and electrical power to the mix. As a result, this system is able to flow under reasonable pressures while maintaining a low flow boundary so that active manganese particles do not sink into the flow tanks when the system is in use.

MIT researchers conduct comparisons

To show that zinc-manganese batteries are cost-effective, the researchers compared them with other electrochemical cells and hydrogen-based storage systems. The analyzes were performed in periods of 8, 24 and 72 hours.

At intervals greater than one day, the semi-solid flow battery surpassed the energy retention capacity of common vanadium and lithium-ion redox flow cells. It maintained low cost and efficiency, even taking into account all the amounts spent pumping the manganese slurry from the storage tank to the pile.