Vienna, Aug 8 (EFE).- A team of scientists has found a way to produce the central element of redox flow batteries, that is, the liquid electrolyte, from vanillin, the primary compound of the sheath of the vanilla, which opens up new perspectives for the sustainable storage of electricity.
The process, which has already been patented, works at room temperature and avoids the use of toxic and expensive metal catalysts, the Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in southern Austria reported on Tuesday.
So far, what had been achieved was that liquid batteries -which can have serious negative ecological impacts if their main element, the electrolyte, leaks- were more respectful of the environment by producing the electrolytes from the vanillin that was It is obtained from lignin, a component of the plant wall.
The team led by TU Graz Professor Ulrich Hirn, Chairman of the International Committee for Paper Physics, has now patented a process that, dubbed “Vanillaflow”, uses artificial intelligence to make vanillin usable in rechargeable batteries.
“At ‘VanillaFlow’ we are developing radically new approaches to integrated energy storage, combining artificial intelligence and machine learning with flow battery technology to replace currently unsustainable raw materials with renewable materials,” they explain. those responsible for the project.
According to the statement, the European Innovation Council (CEI) will contribute some 4.6 million euros over the next three years to this plan.
Storing energy in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way is one of the keys to promoting the energy transition towards renewable sources in order to stop global warming. EFE
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