Tailored energy level alignment at MoO/GaP interface for solar-driven redox flow battery application.

MoO is commonly considered to be a high work-function semiconductor. From x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and photo-electrochemical analysis, it is shown that MoO can be considered as an effective hole transfer layer for the GaP-based device. Specifically, in the absence of carbon contamination using an ion beam cleaning step, the oxygen vacancy derived defect band located inside the bandgap becomes the main charge transfer mechanism.

Unbiased, complete solar charging of a neutral flow battery by a single Si photocathode.

Solar redox flow batteries have attracted attention as a possible integrated technology for simultaneous conversion and storage of solar energy. In this work, we review current efforts to design aqueous solar flow batteries in terms of battery electrolyte capacity, solar conversion efficiency and depth of solar charge. From a materials cost and design perspective, a simple, cost-efficient, aqueous solar redox flow battery will most likely incorporate only one semiconductor, and we demonstrate here a system where a single photocathode is accurately matched to the redox couples to allow for a complete solar charge.

Organic Redox Species in Aqueous Flow Batteries: Redox Potentials, Chemical Stability and Solubility.

Organic molecules are currently investigated as redox species for aqueous low-cost redox flow batteries (RFBs). The envisioned features of using organic redox species are low cost and increased flexibility with respect to tailoring redox potential and solubility from molecular engineering of side groups on the organic redox-active species. In this paper 33, mainly quinone-based, compounds are studied experimentially in terms of pH dependent redox potential, solubility and stability, combined with single cell battery RFB tests on selected redox pairs.

Direct Solar Charging of an Organic-Inorganic, Stable, and Aqueous Alkaline Redox Flow Battery with a Hematite Photoanode.

The intermittent nature of the sunlight and its increasing contribution to electricity generation is fostering the energy storage research. Direct solar charging of an auspicious type of redox flow battery could make solar energy directly and efficiently dispatchable. The first solar aqueous alkaline redox flow battery using low cost and environmentally safe materials is demonstrated.