The present invention relates to a rechargeable aqueous ZnIS flow battery system. The system includes a cathode side comprising an electrode material and a first storage tank providing a catholyte, wherein the catholyte comprises zinc iodide and a soluble starch, forming an electrolyte having aggregated colloidal nanoparticles; an anode side comprising the electrode material and a second storage tank providing an anolyte; and a separator positioned between the cathode and anode. The anolyte and the catholyte flow between the cathode and the anode by a peristaltic pump. The present invention provides a system to further exploit colloidal electrolyte chemistries for the LPPM-based flow battery systems towards power cost-effectiveness and high-temperature large-scale energy storage.

An air electrode has a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a plurality of layered double hydroxide particles. The plurality of layered double hydroxide particles is supported on the plurality of carbon nanotubes.

A catalyst layer including: (i) a first catalytic material, wherein the first catalytic material facilitates a hydrogen oxidation reaction suitably selected from platinum group metals, gold, silver, base metals or an oxide thereof; and (ii) a second catalytic material, wherein the second catalytic material facilitates an oxygen evolution reaction, wherein the second catalytic material includes iridium or iridium oxide and one or more metals M or an oxide thereof, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of transition metals and Sn, wherein the transition metal is preferably selected from the group IVB, VB and VIB; and the first catalytic material is supported on the second catalytic material. The catalyst can be used in fuel cells, supported on electrodes or polymeric membranes for increasing tolerance to cell voltage reversal.

The present invention relates to a bifunctional catalyst for use with air metal batteries and fuel cell. The bifunctional catalyst comprising a core and a shell, where the core comprises a metal oxide and the shell comprises a carbon nanostructure. In a further aspect the bifunctional catalyst is catalytically active for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions.

The present invention combines the storage capacity of redox flow batteries and the production of hydrogen and other products of chemical redox reactions. The redox couple of each electrolyte is chemically regenerated on a specific catalyst bed 11, replacing the discharging processes of the battery, while oxidizing or reducing other species present. This allows for the production of hydrogen on the cathodic side, and various useful products on the anodic side, such as oxygen for fuel cell application. The proposed system uses a dual circuit arrangement from which electrolytes 8 may be pumped through the catalyst beds 11 as desired, once they are in their charged state.

An electrode comprises an acid treated, cathodically cycled carbon-comprising film or body. The carbon consists of single walled nanotubes (SWNTs), pyrolytic graphite, microcrystalline graphitic, any carbon that consists of more than 99% sp.sup.2 hybridized carbons, or any combination thereof. The electrode can be used in an electrochemical device functioning as an electrolyser for evolution of hydrogen or as a fuel cell for oxidation of hydrogen. The electrochemical device can be coupled as a secondary energy generator into a system with a primary energy generator that naturally undergoes generation. fluctuations. During periods of high energy output, the primary source can power the electrochemical device to store energy as hydrogen, which can be consumed to generate electricity as the secondary source during low energy output by the primary source. Solar cells, wind turbines and water turbines can act as the primary energy source.

A static redox battery includes: a membrane having an ion permeation property; a positive electrode electrolyte storage cell module positioned on one side of the membrane; a negative electrode electrolyte storage cell module positioned on the other side of the membrane; and a pair of bipolar plates positioned on outermost sides of the positive electrode electrolyte storage cell module and the negative electrode electrolyte storage cell module. Each of the positive electrode electrolyte storage cell module and the negative electrode electrolyte storage cell module includes a plurality of felt electrodes storing an electrolyte, and a plurality of perforated support plates positioned between the plurality of felt electrodes.

A negative electrode assembly may include a negative electrode formed in a substantially plate-shaped form. The negative electrode may include a first surface and a first edge adjacent the first surface. The assembly may further include an insulating material enclosing the first edge. A zinc hydrogen cell may include a cell case defining a cell interior, negative electrodes and positive electrodes provided within the cell interior, a negative terminal in electrical communication with the negative electrodes, a positive terminal in electrical communication with the positive electrodes; and an aqueous electrolyte comprising a reversible electro-active material disposed within the cell case. The negative electrodes and positive electrodes may be arranged in an alternating configuration with a gap between adjacent electrodes. Each negative electrode may be substantially plate-shaped and include a first surface and a first edge. The first edge may be enclosed within an insulating material.

An improved redox flow battery, and method of making a redox flow battery, are described. The redox flow battery comprising a positive electrode tank comprising a catholyte and a cathode electrode and a negative electrode tank comprising an anolyte and an anode electrode. A membrane is between the positive electrode tank and the negative electrode tank wherein at least one of the cathode electrode or the anode electrode is a pitch-based carbon fiber electrode.

A catalyst for a metal-air battery includes a nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon support and atomically dispersed niobium atoms disposed on the nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon support. A positive electrode for a metal-air battery includes a catalyst coated layer comprising niobium atoms and a nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon support. The niobium atoms are atomically dispersed on the nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon support. A metal-air battery includes an negative electrode, an electrolyte, and a positive electrode. The positive electrode includes a catalyst coated layer that includes niobium atoms and a nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon support. The niobium atoms are atomically dispersed on the nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon support.