Abstract

With increasing reliance on renewable but intermittent energy sources like solar and wind, electrochemical technologies are essential for on-site energy storage and integrating low-carbon power into the grid. Aqueous organic redox flow batteries (RFBs) offer great potential for grid-scale, long-duration energy storage, but their development is limited by the need for ion-selective polymer membranes. Here, I will discuss our recent efforts in the development of microporous membranes designed for precise ion transport in RFB applications. Through modular synthesis of microporous polymers, we introduce ion-coordinating functionalities to enhance rapid ion transport, while optimizing pore geometry and channel topology in hydrated membranes for efficient size-sieving selectivity. These membranes demonstrate faster ion conduction and orders-of-magnitude higher ion selectivity than commercial alternatives, resolving the trade-off challenges typical of conventional membranes. When paired with energy-dense organic redox couples, these membranes enable higher energy efficiency and significantly lower capacity decay in RFB systems.

 Reference:

1. A. Wang^*, Q. Song^*, et al., Nature. Accepted
2. A. Wang, N.B. McKeown^*, Q Song^*, et al., Advanced Materials 35 (12), 2210098, 2023
3. A. Wang, N.B. McKeown^*, Q Song^*, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 144, 37, 17198–17208, 2022
4. R. Tan^†, A. Wang^†, N.B. McKeown^*, Q Song^*, et al., Nature Materials 19, 195-202, 2020.

Biography

Prof Wang is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the Division of Physical Science and Engineering at KAUST. He received his BEng (Hons) degree from Zhejiang University in 2016 and PhD degree from Imperial College London in 2021, both in Chemical Engineering. Prior to KAUST, he was a research associate at Imperial College London from 2021 to 2024. His research focuses on the function-led design and synthesis of organic materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion, aimed at facilitating the global transition to net-zero carbon emissions. His work explores the fundamental correlations between confined ionic and molecular transport and the polymer structures extending from the atomic scale to the macroscopic level, with applications advancing clean energy technologies, particularly in redox flow batteries and electrolyzers for green hydrogen production. Recognized in Forbes 30 under 30 Europe, he has received accolades such as the Energy Sector Award and the Horizon Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Future Faculty award from the American Chemical Society.