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Review
. 2014 Sep 24:2:79.
doi: 10.3389/fchem.2014.00079. eCollection 2014.

Emerging electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies

Sukhvinder P S Badwal  1 , Sarbjit S Giddey  1 , Christopher Munnings  1 , Anand I Bhatt  1 , Anthony F Hollenkamp  1
Affiliations
Review

Emerging electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies

Sukhvinder P S Badwal et al. Front Chem. .

Abstract

Electrochemical cells and systems play a key role in a wide range of industry sectors. These devices are critical enabling technologies for renewable energy; energy management, conservation, and storage; pollution control/monitoring; and greenhouse gas reduction. A large number of electrochemical energy technologies have been developed in the past. These systems continue to be optimized in terms of cost, life time, and performance, leading to their continued expansion into existing and emerging market sectors. The more established technologies such as deep-cycle batteries and sensors are being joined by emerging technologies such as fuel cells, large format lithium-ion batteries, electrochemical reactors; ion transport membranes and supercapacitors. This growing demand (multi billion dollars) for electrochemical energy systems along with the increasing maturity of a number of technologies is having a significant effect on the global research and development effort which is increasing in both in size and depth. A number of new technologies, which will have substantial impact on the environment and the way we produce and utilize energy, are under development. This paper presents an overview of several emerging electrochemical energy technologies along with a discussion some of the key technical challenges.

Keywords: batteries; electrochemical energy systems; electrochemical reactors; energy; energy conversion; energy storage; fuel cells.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Operating principles of low and high temperature water electrolysis with different electrolytes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overall concept of a hydrogen renewable energy system for distributed power generation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A typical example of matching maximum power point (MPP) curve of a suitably configured solar PV array to V-I characteristics of an electrolyzer. The example is for 15 pairs of solar PV arrays connected in parallel and a 16 cell electrolyzer. The data in the Figure has been taken from Clarke et al. (2009).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Break down of energy input for the production of hydrogen from electrolysis at 25°C and 1000°C. The data in the Figure has been taken from Badwal et al. (2013).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Electrochemical reactions involved in low and high temperature carbon-assisted electrolysis process for hydrogen generation.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Classification of current commercial or near commercial fuel cell systems.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Classification of future fuel cell systems.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Two modes of operation of a MFC. (A) Direct reaction, and (B) indirect reaction. Figure reproduced from data in Knight et al. (2013).
Figure 9
Figure 9
The operating principle of an Alkali Metal Thermo-electrochemical Energy converter (AMTEC).
Figure 10
Figure 10
Schematic representation of two contemporary versions of the lithium-air battery—(A): non-aqueous version, similar to Li-ion; (B): aqueous, with Li+-permeable membrane protecting the lithium anode.
Figure 11
Figure 11
(A) A schematic view of the lithium-sulfur cell. (B) Summary of reactions that define Li-S and their relationship with solubility.
Figure 12
Figure 12
A schematic view of an electrochemical double-layer capacitor, based on a symmetrical carbon-carbon device.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Approximate representation of characteristics of different storage technologies. Some types, especially “batteries,” encompass or overlap many technologies within the general shape. Redrawn from the data in Chatzivasileiadi et al. (2013).
Figure 14
Figure 14
Basic operating principle of O2- and H+ electrochemical reactors for fuel and chemical production.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Electrochemical reactions involved in various processes for producing fuels and value-added chemicals from waste.
Figure 16
Figure 16
The operating principle of ammonia production in a solid state electrochemical cell.
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