Research progress in electrolyte performance optimization of iron-chromium flow batteries

ZHANG Lijie; ZHANG Ying; YE Han

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.1075

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Research progress in electrolyte performance optimization of iron-chromium flow batteries

Energy Storage Materials and Devices | 更新时间：2026-07-13

- Research progress in electrolyte performance optimization of iron-chromium flow batteries
- Energy Storage Science and Technology Vol. 15, Issue 6, Pages: 2172-2181(2026)
- 作者机构：
  
  1.中石化（大连）石油化工研究院有限公司，辽宁大连 116045
  2.北京化工大学，北京 100029
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.1075
  CLC： TM 911
- Received：01 December 2025，
  
  Revised：2025-12-31，
  
  Published：28 June 2026
- 稿件说明：
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张力婕, 张英, 叶涵. 铁铬液流电池电解液性能优化研究进展[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2026, 15(6): 2172-2181.

ZHANG Lijie, ZHANG Ying, YE Han. Research progress in electrolyte performance optimization of iron-chromium flow batteries[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2026, 15(6): 2172-2181.
张力婕, 张英, 叶涵. 铁铬液流电池电解液性能优化研究进展[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2026, 15(6): 2172-2181. DOI： 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.1075.

ZHANG Lijie, ZHANG Ying, YE Han. Research progress in electrolyte performance optimization of iron-chromium flow batteries[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2026, 15(6): 2172-2181. DOI： 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.1075.

摘要

铁铬液流电池（ICRFB）因铁、铬元素在地壳中储量丰富、成本低廉，并适用于大规模长时储能，被认为是一种极具应用前景的电化学储能技术。电解液作为决定电池能量效率、循环寿命与成本的核心单元，其性能优化是推动ICRFB实际应用的关键。然而，当前铁铬电池电解液仍面临几个重要挑战：一是在酸性条件下，Cr

/Cr

电对在充电过程中容易引发析氢副反应，降低库仑效率；二是Fe

/Fe

与Cr

/Cr

等离子半径较小，易发生跨膜迁移，导致正负极活性物质交叉污染与容量持续衰减；三是充电过程中Cr

可催化活性络合物[Cr(H

]

向热力学更稳定的惰性形态[Cr(H

]

转化，造成电解液活性下降。本文从电解液容量衰减机制出发，系统综述了近年来在电解液性能优化方面的研究进展，主要包括通过电解液组成与pH调控、功能添加剂的开发与应用以及配体分子设计及络合稳定策略等多途径提升电解液的稳定性和电池综合性能。最后，对未来研究方向作出展望，指出开发高效稳定的配体体系、构建新型电解液系统是进一步提升铁铬液流电池性能的重要途径。

Abstract

Iron-chromium flow batteries (ICRFBs) are regarded as a highly promising electrochemical energy storage technology owing to the abundant reserves of iron and chromium in the Earth's crust

low cost

and suitability for large-scale long-duration energy storage. As the core component determining the energy efficiency

cycle life

and cost of the battery

optimization of electrolyte performance is key to promoting the practical application of ICRFBs. However

current iron-chromium battery electrolytes still face several major challenges. First

under acidic conditions

the Cr

/Cr

redox couple tends to trigger the hydrogen evolution side reaction during charging

reducing Coulombic efficiency. Second

/Fe

and Cr

/Cr

have small ionic radii

making them prone to crossover through the membrane

leading to cross-contamination between the positive and negative active materials and continuous capacity decay. Third

during charging

can catalyze the transformation of the active complex [Cr(H

]

into the thermodynamically more stable

inert form [Cr(H

]

resulting in reduced electrolyte activity. This study begins with the mechanisms of electrolyte capacity decay and systematically reviews recent research progress in electrolyte performance optimization

primarily including strategies such as electrolyte composition adjustment and pH regulation

the development and application of functional additives

and ligand molecular design coupled with complexation stabilization

to enhance electrolyte stability and overall battery performance. Finally

future research directions are outlined

emphasizing that the development of highly efficient and stable ligand systems and the construction of novel electrolyte systems are crucial pathways for further improving the performance of ICRBs.

关键词

Keywords

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