A flow battery includes a first liquid containing a first electrode mediator dissolved therein, a first electrode immersed in the first liquid, a first active material immersed in the first liquid, and a first circulation mechanism that circulates the first liquid between the first electrode and the first active material. The first electrode mediator includes a carbazole derivative, and the carbazole derivative has a substituent at positions 3, 6, and 9 of a carbazole skeleton thereof.

The present invention is an electrochemical reactor and a method of making it. The reactor includes an impermeable interconnect formed without a fluid dispersing element. The reactor also preferably includes an electrolyte and a fluid dispersing component disposed between the interconnect and the electrolyte. Preferably, the fluid dispersing component is formed with a plurality of shaped segments. Also, the fluid dispersing component is incorporated into either one or both of the anode or cathode.

A back-up rechargeable battery supply system comprises communication linkages and a configuration of switches to allow battery back-up power to be provided by cells within a battery unit that are in a ready mode and to by-pass batteries that are in a non-ready mode, or maintenance mode. The unique configuration of switches and communication methods enables the back-up power to be provided very quickly to avoid disruptions in power to a load. Each battery cell has a charge and discharge switch and a power switch. Both the power switch and one of the charge or discharge switches must be closed to allow the battery cell to charge or discharge respectively. The by-pass switch may be controlled by the battery system control or by the cell controller and when closed, the cell may be bypassed from discharging or charging. The battery cells may be electrochemical cells such as metal air batteries.

Electrochemical apparatuses containing electrolytes that include redox-active reactants that may be present as both a dissolved species and as a solid during a charging and/or discharging process, and related methods are generally described. The redox-active reactant may contain an active species, and the electrolyte may contain a total concentration of the active species that is greater than if the redox-active reactant were completely dissolved during an entire charging and/or discharging process. The electrochemical apparatuses described may provide relatively high energy storage capacity.

A flow-through redox galvanic cell and a battery is described, where each flow-through galvanic cell is separated into two parts by a metal foil serving as a bi-electrode in contact with two solutions having different redox potentials. Voltage due to redox processes is formed through the foil, and two traditional electrodes (cathode and anode) in each cell are not necessary anymore. The cells in a battery should be in electric contact with each other via ion-selective membranes. The battery is easy to recharge, and it is smaller, lighter, safer and cheaper than known redox-flow batteries. It may be used as a reserve source of energy in electric grids and households. It also may be used in electric cars, and it is especially attractive for use near the seashore and on sea ships.

An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

A dynamic metal-anode flow battery energy-storage system includes a discharge module, a charging module, and a delivery device. The discharge module includes a plurality of discharge reactants to be oxidized to discharge electric energy. The charging module is electrically connected to the discharge module and includes at least one electrolysis device and at least one removal device. The electrolysis device includes a conductive member which is to be energized with electricity, such that a plurality of electrolysis products having the same material with the discharge reactants are adhered to a surface thereof. The removal device includes a scraper adapted to remove the adhered electrolysis products from the surface of the conductive member. The delivery device is adapted to deliver the electrolysis products into the first electrolyte as the discharge reactants, and deliver the discharged products into the second electrolyte as the electrolysis reactants.

Systems and methods are provided for rebalancing cells in a redox flow battery. In one example, a rebalancing cell system includes a first rebalancing cell in series fluidic communication with a second rebalancing cell and a hydrogen source, the first rebalancing cell includes a first electrode assembly stack with hydrogen flow paths extending therethrough and having a higher pressure than an electrolyte in the first electrode assembly stack. Further, the second rebalancing cell includes a second electrode assembly stack with hydrogen flow paths that extend therethrough and have a higher pressure than an electrolyte in the second electrode assembly stack.

A flow battery includes a first liquid containing a first electrode mediator, a first electrode, a first active material, and a first circulator that circulates the first liquid between the first electrode and the first active material. The first electrode mediator includes at least one benzene derivative that is at least one selected from the group consisting of 1,4-di-tert-butyl-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, 1,4-dichloro-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, 1,4-difluoro-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, and 1,4-dibromo-2,5-dimethoxybenzene.

A dynamic metal-anode flow battery energy-storage system includes a discharge module, a charging module, and a delivery device. The discharge module includes a plurality of discharge reactants to be oxidized to discharge electric energy. The charging module is electrically connected to the discharge module and includes at least one electrolysis device and at least one removal device. The electrolysis device includes a conductive member which is to be energized with electricity, such that a plurality of electrolysis products having the same material with the discharge reactants are adhered to a surface thereof. The removal device includes a scraper adapted to remove the adhered electrolysis products from the surface of the conductive member. The delivery device is adapted to deliver the electrolysis products into the first electrolyte as the discharge reactants, and deliver the discharged products into the second electrolyte as the electrolysis reactants.