Storing and generating energy in a single device: scientists redefine the concept of the solar battery

©Roberto Sorin via Unsplash

A group of Chinese researchers has developed a battery that can not only store energy but also produce it. One of the biggest challenges to the energy transition and the breakthrough of renewable resources is the volatile nature of solar energy and the need for increasingly efficient storage systems. A new study published in the journal Electrochimica Acta and entitled 'An aqueous...' promises to change that thanks to an integrated device that can perform both functions.

An innovative fusion

The so-called Solar Redox Flow Batteries (SRFB) represent a breakthrough solution that couples photovoltaic conversion with battery storage technology. Unlike conventional systems, these batteries integrate solar energy conversion and storage in a single device: sunlight is converted directly into energy that can be stored, and then converted into electricity at a desired time. Although the concept was presented by NASA back in 1976, only in recent years have major strides been made in developing suitable materials.

The core of the discovery

The research team developed an SRFB device based on anthraquinone, a class of organic compounds chosen for its wide availability, low cost, safety (non-flammable) and ability to fine-tune the electrochemical potentials.

The configuration allows the device to be charged directly with sunlight, without the need for an external power source. Moreover, the system showed remarkable stability: it withstood more than 15 charging and discharging cycles without significant degradation.

Efficiency and environmental sustainability

One of the major stumbling blocks in the past was the corrosion of the materials used. The new study managed to circumvent this problem by operating the system in a moderately alkaline environment, which protects the components and guarantees their stability.

The results are impressive: the device achieved an efficiency of 4.2% for converting solar energy into electricity, one of the highest values measured for this technology so far.

On the way to a low-cost future

The success of this prototype paves the way for cheaper, more sustainable and easier-to-implement solar energy conversion technologies. These advances bring a future where solar energy can be harvested and stored on a large scale closer, making power grids increasingly less dependent on polluting fossil fuels.

(Electrochimica Acta via GreenMe.it 2026/Managing Editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction/Picture: ©Jonas Leupe via Unsplash)