16.4. Key materials for vanadium batteries The key materials for vanadium cells include the vanadium electrolyte, membrane, and electrodes. Strict technical control and testing of these components are required during their preparation. 16.4.1.
This review summarizes the structural characteristics, electrochemical performance, and refinement methods of vanadium-based materials, including vanadium oxides, vanadium sulfides, vanadates, vanadium phosphates, and vanadium spinel compounds, as RMB cathodes. Although relatively less, vanadium-based materials as RMB anodes are also introduced.
Considering the dilemma of multivalent batteries, vanadium-based compounds as cathode materials have attracted much attention [97, 98]. Vanadium-based compounds have been researched as potential cathode materials in various battery systems for about 40 years and part of which have got practical application .
Vanadium compounds have shown good performances as electrode materials of new ion batteries including sodium-ion batteries, zinc ion batteries, and RMBs , , , .
Compared with the commercial cathode materials in state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries, vanadium-based compounds in multivalent batteries still have the great gap, but the enormous potential of this new battery system constantly stimulates the researchers to overcome the continuous challenges.
Vanadium batteries are also compatible with the wide geographical distribution and large number of solar cells used in network communication systems. They can replace the lead–acid batteries commonly used in the current solar power systems, while reducing maintenance requirements and costs and increasing productivity. 16.3.2.5.