US 12,272,850 B2
Mediated metal-sulfur flow battery for grid-scale energy storage
Leo J. Small, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Melissa Lynn Meyerson, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Assigned to National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on May 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/740,128.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/224,151, filed on Jul. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0033611 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 8/18 (2006.01); H01M 4/36 (2006.01); H01M 4/38 (2006.01); H01M 4/62 (2006.01); H01M 4/96 (2006.01); H01M 12/08 (2006.01); H01M 4/04 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 8/188 (2013.01) [H01M 4/366 (2013.01); H01M 4/381 (2013.01); H01M 4/382 (2013.01); H01M 4/62 (2013.01); H01M 4/96 (2013.01); H01M 12/08 (2013.01); H01M 4/0445 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mediated metal-sulfur flow battery, comprising:
a catholyte reservoir for storing an energy storage material comprising sulfur;
an electrochemical cell comprising
a metal anode, and
a cathode compartment comprising a cathode electrode and a catholyte comprising a first redox mediator and a second redox mediator, wherein the first and second redox mediators comprise metallocenes, and a salt of the anode metal ion in a solvent;
a solid-electrolyte interface on the metal anode that allows passage of metal ions while preventing passage of the first and second redox mediators; and
a pump or a gravity feed for flowing the catholyte through the catholyte reservoir and the electrochemical cell,
wherein the first redox mediator is oxidized and correspondingly reduces sulfur in the catholyte reservoir, and the oxidized first redox mediator is reduced at the cathode electrode during a discharge cycle; and wherein the second redox mediator is oxidized at the cathode electrode, and the oxidized second redox mediator is reduced and correspondingly oxidizes the reduced sulfur in the catholyte reservoir during a charge cycle.