SPEEK scaling UP

In this new issue of Joule, Xianfeng Li and colleagues demonstrated the pilot scale roll-to-roll synthesis of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane and the scaling up of zinc flow batteries (ZFBs) stack 300- 4000Wwithmembrane area up to 3m(2). Compared to expensive Nafion membranes ($500- 1500 m(-2)), cost analysis demonstrated the significant cost reduction of SPEEK membranes to $12 m(-2) and subsequently enormous cost reduction of flow battery stacks. This cost reduction will advance the manufacturing of flow battery systems for large-scale energy storage plants.(1)

Automated summary

The study demonstrates the pilot scale roll-to-roll synthesis of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane and the scaling up of zinc flow batteries (ZFBs) stack, showing a significant cost reduction from $500-1500 per square meter for Nafion membranes to $12 per square meter for SPEEK membranes. This cost reduction will drive the usage of flow battery systems in large-scale energy storage applications.