title: Towards an all-copper redox flow battery based on a copper-containing ionic liquid.
abstract: The first redox flow battery (RFB), based on the all-copper liquid metal salt [Cu(MeCN)4][Tf2N], is presented. Liquid metal salts (LMS) are a new type of ionic liquid that functions both as solvent and electrolyte. Non-aqueous electrolytes have advantages over water-based solutions, such as a larger electrochemical window and large thermal stability. The proof-of-concept is given that LMSs can be used as the electrolyte in RFBs. The main advantage of [Cu(MeCN)4][Tf2N] is the high copper concentration, and thus high charge and energy densities of 300 kC l(-1) and 75 W h l(-1) respectively, since the copper(i) ions form an integral part of the electrolyte. A Coulombic efficiency up to 85% could be reached.
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Materials Engineering, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, Box 2450, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. jan.fransaer@mtm.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schaltin
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Neil R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sniekers
authors.forename: Ivo F J
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Vankelecom
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Binnemans
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fransaer