Low-cost Zinc-polyiodide Redox Flow Battery
Technology Category/Market
Category- Chemistry and Chemical Analysis
Industry:
Chemicals manufacturing; Plastics and Polymers Industry
Applications:
Packaging Films- Compostable bags, cling films, and pouches; Agricultural Films- Mulch films and crop‑protection sheets; Disposable Tableware: Cutlery and plates; Courier Bags- Biodegradable mailing envelopes; Textiles & Apparel- Fibers and non‑woven fabrics; Pharmaceutical Materials- Biodegradable drug‑delivery matrices.
Market report:
The global PBAT market was valued at USD 1,928 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4,792 million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 8.6%
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Problem Statement
- Zinc-polyiodide redox flow batteries (ZIFBs) offer high volumetric energy density and scalable, low-cost storage critical for grid-level renewable integration.
- Conventional ZIFBs use porous separators and Nafion membranes; high redox species solubility yields energy density but suffers from self-discharge and low cycle life.
- Further, key issues such as zinc dendrite growth, electrolyte crossover, low ionic conductivity, electrolyte imbalance, insoluble iodine precipitation, high membrane cost and reducing efficiency should be addresses.
- There is a need for a low-cost additive and a composite membrane to enhance energy efficiency, cycle life, and affordability by minimizing dendrite formation and preventing electrolyte shifting
Technology
- A low-cost method using plasma asher replaces RIE for forming nanopatterns on PDMS or hydrogel surfaces, with polystyrene particle sizes between 50–1000 nm determining the final pattern resolution.
- Polystyrene (or other biodegradable) particles are drop-cast to form monolayers, eliminating need for special systems. These particles guide the final nanoscale pattern features upon plasma etching.
- Nanopatterns are created using oxygen plasma under 60–300 W power, 100–300 mTorr pressure, and 5–20 sccm flow, ensuring eco-friendly fabrication without damaging the base polymer.
- The method produces fully functional nanopatterned surfaces with no additional steps, saving time and operational cost while improving yield and throughput for industrial scale-up.
- Additional wrinkle patterns can be formed with higher plasma power (150–1500 W), enhancing surface area—beneficial for sensing applications such as SERS or wearables requiring higher signal sensitivity.
Key Features/Value Proposition
- Achieves PBAT molecular weights up to ~1.15 × 10⁶ g/mol, surpassing literature reports (<3 × 10⁵ Da) for superior mechanical strength.
- Utilizes inexpensive, non‑toxic Group 4 (Ti) and Group 13 (Al) initiators, avoiding precious or hazardous metals common in other systems.
- Simplifies formulation by omitting additional co‑catalysts, reducing material costs and post‑processing purification steps.
- Delivers polymers with PDI ≈1.0–1.18, enabling uniform melt behavior and consistent performance in film‑blowing or extrusion processes.
- Combines esterification and polycondensation in a single reactor under moderate temperatures (150–280 °C) and reduced pressure, minimizing reaction time and energy.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
Research Lab
Prof. Debashish Chakraborty
Department of Chemistry
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref 2887
- IN 202441065905 Patent Application
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 4
Technology Validated in Lab