Quinone-based high energy density liquid active material for flow battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016197371-A1
Application number	US-201514590962-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2015
Priority date	Jan 6, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A liquid catholyte as well as electrochemical cells and automotive vehicles employing the liquid catholyte are disclosed. The liquid catholyte includes a quinone as redox active material and a fluoroalkylsulfonyl salt as charge balancing agent and is characterized by a liquid form of the redox active material regardless of redox state. The liquid catholyte can thus have utility as a catholyte in a flow battery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A liquid catholyte comprising:
a quinone; and a fluoroalkysulfonyl salt,
wherein the quinone functions as a redox active material present in a liquid form whether reduced or oxidized.

2 . The liquid catholyte as recited in claim 1 , wherein the quinone is a substituted or unsubstituted 1,4-benzoquinone according to Structure I:

wherein each of R, R′, R″, and R′″, is independently alkyl, alkoxy, or hydrogen.

3 . The liquid catholyte as recited in claim 2 , wherein the benzoquinone is selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-1,4-bezoquinone; 2-t-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone; 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone; 2,6-di-t-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone; 2-i-propyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone; and 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone; and a mixture thereof.

4 . The liquid catholyte as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fluoroalkylsulfonyl salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), lithium bis(pentafluroethylsulfonyl)imide (LiBETI), lithium trifluromethylfulfonate, sodium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI), magnesium bis(bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Mg(TFSI) 2 ), and a mixture thereof.

5 . The liquid catholyte as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a liquid fluidizer.

6 . The liquid catholyte as recited in claim 5 , wherein the liquid fluidizer comprises water.

7 . The liquid catholyte of claim 5 , wherein a volume ratio of liquid fluidizer:liquid catholyte is 10% or less.

8 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
an anode chamber; a cathode chamber having a cathodic current collector and a liquid catholyte; and a semi-permeable separator disposed between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber,
wherein the catholyte comprises a quinone and a fluoroalkysulfonyl salt.

9 . The electrochemical cell of claim 8 , wherein the quinone is a substituted or unsubstituted 1,4-benzoquinone according to Structure I:

wherein each of R, R′, R″, and R′″, is independently alkyl, alkoxy, or hydrogen.

10 . The electrochemical cell of claim 9 , wherein the 1,4-benzoquinone is selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-1,4-bezoquinone; 2-t-butyl-1,4-benzo quinone; 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone; 2,6-di-t-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone; 2-i-propyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone; 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone; and a mixture thereof.

11 . The electrochemical cell of claim 8 , wherein the fluoroalkylsulfonyl salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), lithium bis(pentafluroethylsulfonyl)imide (LiBETI), lithium trifluromethylfulfonate, sodium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI), magnesium bis(bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Mg(TFSI) 2 ), and a mixture thereof.

12 . The electrochemical cell of claim 8 , wherein the electrochemical cell is a flow cell and the anode chamber comprises a liquid anolyte having an anodic redox active material that is liquid regardless of oxidation state.

13 . An automotive vehicle having an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising:
an anode chamber; a cathode chamber having a cathodic current collector and a catholyte; and a semi-permeable separator disposed between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber;
wherein the catholyte comprises a quinone and a fluoroalkysulfonyl salt.

14 . The automotive vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the quinone is a substituted or unsubstituted 1,4-benzoquinone according to Structure I:

wherein each of R, R′, R″, and R′″, is independently alkyl, alkoxy, or hydrogen.

15 . The automotive vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the 1,4-benzoquinone is selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-1,4-bezoquinone; 2-t-butyl-1,4-benzo quinone; 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone; 2,6-di-t-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone; 2-i-propyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone; 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone; and a mixture thereof.

16 . The automotive vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the fluoroalkylsulfonyl salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), lithium bis(pentafluroethylsulfonyl)imide (LiBETI), lithium trifluromethylfulfonate, sodium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI), magnesium bis(bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Mg(TFSI) 2 ), and a mixture thereof.

17 . The automotive vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the electrochemical cell is a flow cell and the anode chamber comprises a liquid anolyte having an anodic redox active material that is liquid regardless of oxidation state.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Takechi Kensuke

Classifications

• H01M8/20

  Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible (H01M8/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M2300/0025

  Organic electrolyte · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/188 Primary

  by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title