Perspective on Radiolytic Charging for Redox Flow Battery Electrolytes Using the Nuclear Decay Energy of Spent Nuclear Fuel/Radionuclides.

The conversion of nuclear energy into electricity is facilitated by chemical intermediates and molecular products formed during the radiolysis of water. In this work, we hypothesize a novel radiolytic charging approach for redox flow battery electrolytes. Radiolytically produced ionic intermediates and molecular products oxidize or reduce the metal ion solutes in the electrolytes.