Peering into a Flow Battery

Curiosity-driven research has always been at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries across various disciplines. An international collaboration involving TU/e, MIT, and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, spearheaded by TU/e researcher Antoni Forner-Cuenca, recently unveiled a new method utilizing neutron imaging. This innovative approach has provided exceptional moving images that offer valuable insights into the inner workings of redox flow batteries.

The significance of these images extends beyond mere observation, serving as a source of inspiration and a roadmap for generating fresh ideas and solutions. While the primary focus lies in advancing redox flow battery technology, the novel imaging technique developed by Forner-Cuenca's team holds promise for driving progress in other scientific fields as well. According to Forner-Cuenca, "Our method is a testament to the power of cross-disciplinary research driven by curiosity."

Neutron radiography plays a pivotal role in the research project titled 'Quantifying concentration distributions in redox flow batteries with neutron radiography.' Forner-Cuenca's expertise in this imaging technique dates back to his PhD training at PSI in 2013. Subsequently, his postdoctoral stint at MIT in 2017 exposed him to the intricacies of redox flow batteries, sparking a pivotal realization.

Delving deeper into the dynamics of flow batteries, Forner-Cuenca explains, "The movement of fluids within the battery, known as electrolytes, is a critical aspect. As the battery undergoes charging or discharging, an electrical current flows through the cell, prompting ions and redox molecules in the electrolyte to shift directions, leading to fluctuations in molecular concentrations. Understanding this process is key to enhancing battery performance and longevity, which has remained a mystery until now."

By leveraging the unique interaction of neutrons with specific molecules, Forner-Cuenca's team has pioneered the application of neutron radiography to visualize molecular concentrations within flow batteries. This innovative use of existing scientific principles marks a significant advancement in battery research. Despite being more labor-intensive than X-ray photography, the method offers a dynamic visual representation of concentration changes within the battery during operation, akin to stop-motion animation.