The incorporation of 2D materials into membranes to improve the environmental sustainability of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs): A critical review

This review analyses the environmental impacts of redox flow batteries (RFBs) manufactureing reported recently, with a focus on the global warming potential (GWP), to identify major contributors and opportunities for improving their environmental sustainability from a low-carbon perspective. Emphasis was made on vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) due to being the most successful redox chemistry to date. The findings indicate that the extraction and processing of vanadium (used in the production of the electrolyte) is the main contributor to GWP, which highlights the importance of reducing vanadium crossover using highly selective membranes. This review also discusses the performance of different types of 2D materials incorporated to membranes in VRFBs to test reductions in vanadium crossover.

Automated summary

This review examines the environmental impacts of recent redox flow batteries (RFBs) manufacturing, particularly focusing on global warming potential (GWP), in order to identify major contributors and opportunities for improving their environmental sustainability from a low-carbon perspective. Emphasis is placed on vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) as they have been the most successful redox chemistry thus far. The findings suggest that the extraction and processing of vanadium (used in electrolyte production) is the main contributor to GWP, underscoring the importance of reducing vanadium crossover using highly selective membranes. This review also discusses the incorporation of different types of 2D materials into membranes in VRFBs to assess reductions in vanadium crossover.