Abstract

One of the major concerns for the near future is our ability to generate and store energy. Though green technologies for energy generation such as solar and wind harvesting have been developed, their constant fluctuation in output requires a cost‐effective and efficient mode for storing the energy that is generated. The flow cell battery was developed by NASA in the 1970’s and has recently garnered attention in Japan, Australia, and California for large scale energy storage. Flow Cell batteries were originally produced using Iron and Chromium compound electrolytes; however the relative abundance, multiple valence states, and low toxicity of Vanadium make it an excellent alternative candidate for an electrolyte. The current Vanadium Redox Batteries use Vanadium ions dissolved in sulfuric or hydrochloric acid, and one drawback is that the particles tend to aggregate in the filters of the batteries, which decreases lifetime. I plan to synthesize Vanadium nanostructures, such as nanowires, for use in these batteries with the hopes of increasing mass and electrical transport efficiency and preventing the buildup of particles within the devices.

Mentor

Bin Chen

Lab site

NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)

Funding Acknowledgement

This material is based upon work supported by the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0952013 and Grant No. 0833353. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation or the National Science Foundation. This project has also been made possible with support of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The STAR program is administered by the Cal Poly Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME) on behalf of the California State University (CSU).

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URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/150

 

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