Researchers at Stanford University have revealed a new cutting-edge approach “liquid battery,” that comes with a viable remedy for renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Under the expert guidance of Robert Waymouth, the Robert Eckles Swain Professor of Chemistry, the research team has created this technique that effectively stores hydrogen in liquid form, eliminating the conventional difficulties associated with hydrogen storage, which frequently need large and intricate infrastructure.
“We are developing a new strategy for selectively converting and long-term storing of electrical energy in liquid fuels,” said Waymouth, senior author of the study.
The newly developed strategy relies on molecules called liquid organic hydrogen carriers, or LOHCs, which have the ability to both absorb and release hydrogen. The researchers were able to convert electrical energy directly into isopropanol, a liquid alcohol that functions as a high-density hydrogen carrier, by employing a precisely engineered catalyst system. Because of its poor energy density and safety issues, producing hydrogen gas is a significant obstacle to conventional hydrogen storage. This approach removes the need for it.
“We also discovered a novel, selective catalytic system for storing electrical energy in a liquid fuel without generating gaseous hydrogen,” Waymouth added.
This liquid battery technology has a wide range of possible uses. The capacity to store excess energy during times of peak production and release it during periods of high demand might significantly improve the stability and reliability of the power grid in areas like California, which mostly rely on renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the hydrogen carrier’s liquid state makes distribution and transportation easier, which may create new opportunities for the decarbonization of the transportation industry and other sectors.
The unforeseen utility of cobaltocene, a product of the relatively common and affordable metal cobalt, as a co-catalyst in the hydrogen storage process was one of the key findings of the Stanford study. This finding could speed up the adoption of renewable energy sources by opening the door to the development of liquid battery systems that are more scalable and reasonably priced.
Even though the technology is still in the early stages, researchers are excited about how it could completely transform the energy industry. “This is basic fundamental science, but we think we have a new strategy for more selectively storing electrical energy in liquid fuels,” Waymouth explained.
The team is currently concentrating on improving the catalyst system and looking for methods to streamline the energy release and storage procedures. In an effort to further reduce costs and increase sustainability of the technology, they are also looking into the usage of additional metals that are readily available on Earth as catalysts.
In the fight for a more resilient and sustainable energy future, the liquid battery is a major advancement. It has the ability to quicken the transition from fossil fuels to a more sustainable energy system by offering an effective and scalable method of maintaining renewable energy. As technology develops further, it may become increasingly important in reducing the effects of climate change and guaranteeing future generations have access to a constant source of energy.
“When you have excess energy, and there’s no demand for it on the grid, you store it as isopropanol. When you need the energy, you can return it as electricity,” Waymouth concluded.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
