The world is on a mission to reach net zero, and renewable energy is a key player in this race. But, as we all know, the sun doesn't always shine, and the wind doesn't always blow. So, how do we store all that renewable energy when it's not needed? Enter the flow battery, a device that stores energy in liquids, rather than solid electrodes like lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are seen as a potential game-changer, but they've been hampered by cost and geopolitical constraints, as well as the irregularity of research results. Now, scientists at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) have developed a 3D-printed flow battery based on iron, which is much easier to source than the metallic element vanadium. This breakthrough could make a genuine impact on the road to net zero, and it's all thanks to a post-doctoral researcher named Dr. Hugh O'Connor. O'Connor began tinkering with the design of flow batteries when he needed one for his PhD and realized it would cost £2,000-£3,000. So, he started 3D-printing them and made lots of little tweaks. After a lot of trial and error, these started to work really well. The cell he printed allowed him to carry out the tests he needed for his PhD, but when he compared his results to other research, he struggled to find the standards he wanted. It turns out that many other researchers were having the same problems, and O'Connor's affordable design became a game-changer. Instead of monetizing his discovery, O'Connor and his supervisor decided to provide the design to the entire international research community for free. This move was seen as an opportunity to grow their network rather than make a small amount of money, and they feel it can really benefit this technology. The design costs roughly £74 and involves about ten components, from the printed pieces that the liquid flows through to a membrane, gaskets, electrodes, and current collectors. And it involves careful assembly, simplified by the free guide supplied with the kit. O'Connor's design is now being used by researchers around the world, leading studies involving multiple institutions. This reproducibility is crucial for robust evidence and reliable results, which are essential for the development of flow batteries. As Illuminate Fellow at QUB's School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Dr. Josh Bailey is leading these studies and believes that flow batteries can be accelerated by these reproducibility studies. He and his team are scaling up their work, testing larger stacks of printed cells to see how the technology may be applied to industry. This is a crucial step in the innovation process, as it allows them to see how far they can push the chemistries they're working on. The world is increasingly turning to renewable energy, and reliable and affordable methods of storing all that energy are needed. Flow batteries are a potential solution, but they need to be developed widely to be effective. China has constructed some large-scale batteries, and a trial has also taken place in Scotland. But global development has been hampered due to the irregularity of research results. By using O'Connor's affordable 3D-printed cell, researchers can reproduce results using identical equipment in different institutions, providing robust evidence to rely on. This breakthrough from QUB could be a significant step towards a more sustainable future, and it's all thanks to the ingenuity and generosity of Dr. O'Connor and his team.
