Credit: Applied Chemistry International Edition (2025). Two: 10.1002/ANIE.202505383
Engineers have developed a water-based battery that could help Australian households store rooftop solar energy more safely, cheaply and efficiently than ever before.
Their next-generation “flow battery” opens the door to compact, high-performance battery systems for homes and is expected to be much cheaper than current $10,000 lithium-ion systems.
Flow batteries have been around for decades but have traditionally been used in large-scale energy storage due to their large size and slow charge speeds.
Wanqiao Liang, first author of the study published in Applied Chemistry International Edition and Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, said the team’s new membrane design fixes the speed problem, making it ideal for households and a promising key player in the energy transition market.
“We’ve taken a safe, affordable chemistry and made it fast enough to capture rooftop solar in real time,” Liang said.
“We’ve engineered a membrane that finally makes organic flow batteries competitive for residential and mid-scale storage. It opens the door to systems that are not only cheaper, but also safer and simpler to scale.”
While some companies already produce flow batteries, Monash’s design stands out for its combination of safety, low cost and high-speed performance—a balance few systems around the world have achieved.
Wanqiao Liang. Credit: Monash University
“The key was improving ion selectivity; letting the good ions through quickly while keeping unwanted ones out. Our new membrane achieves this balance, allowing fast, stable operation even at high current densities,” Liang said.
“We outperformed the industry-standard Nafion membrane in both speed and stability—running 600 high-current cycles with virtually no capacity loss—that’s a major leap forward for this kind of battery.”
Liang said a careful balance was crucial to making these batteries work for rooftop solar at home.
“This is the kind of battery you’d want in your garage. It’s non-toxic, non-flammable, and made from abundant materials, all while keeping up with solar power on a sunny day.”
The team is now 3D printing prototype systems and testing them under real-world conditions.
“If the prototypes keep performing the way we expect, this could be on the market in a few years’ time,” Liang said.
Flow batteries store energy in liquids rather than solid materials like those found in lithium-ion batteriesmaking them cheaper to manufacture, safer to operate and easier to scale.
“We’ve developed a new type of membrane inside the battery that guides the flow of materials better—kind of like adding lanes to a highway. That means faster charging, longer battery life and better performance overall,” Liang said.
More information:
Wanqiao Liang et al, Flow Battery with Remarkably Stable Performance at High Current Density: Development of A Nonfluorinated Separator with Concurrent Rejection and Conductivity, Applied Chemistry International Edition (2025). Two: 10.1002/ANIE.202505383
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Water-based flow battery could break solar storage barrier for homeowners (2025, May 20)
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Could This New Battery Unlock Rooftop Solar Power for everyone? A Q&A with Energy Expert Dr. Aris Thorne
Target Keywords: Solar energy, Battery Storage, Flow Batteries, Renewable Energy, Home Solar Power, Energy transition, Water-based Battery, Australian Innovation, Grid Storage
Time.news: Dr. Thorne, thanks for joining us today. This article from monash University suggests a breakthrough in water-based flow batteries that could revolutionize home solar energy storage. What’s your initial reaction?
Dr. Aris Thorne: My pleasure.This is genuinely exciting news. Flow batteries have always held immense potential, but the sluggish charging speeds have historically limited their application to large-scale grid storage. If this Monash team has truly overcome that hurdle, it’s a game-changer for rooftop solar adoption.
Time.news: The article highlights this new membrane design as the key innovation. Can you explain its meaning in layman’s terms?
Dr.Aris Thorne: Think of a crowded highway. Cars (ions in this case) need to move quickly and efficiently. The old membranes were like narrow, poorly managed lanes, causing traffic jams (slow charging). This new membrane acts like adding more lanes and directing traffic smoothly, allowing the “good” ions to flow freely while blocking the “bad” ones. essentially, it supercharges the battery’s performance.
Time.news: What are the advantages of a water-based flow battery over the more commonly used lithium-ion batteries for home solar storage?
Dr. Aris Thorne: safety is a huge advantage. Lithium-ion batteries can be flammable and require sophisticated safety systems. This water-based battery is non-toxic and non-flammable, as the article states, making it much safer for residential use. Cost is another factor. Flow batteries are inherently cheaper to manufacture because they rely on readily available materials. they are typically more durable, although further testing is needed to see exactly how these perform in the long term.
Time.news: The article mentions this system could be significantly cheaper than the current $10,000 lithium-ion systems. What kind of cost reduction are we perhaps looking at?
Dr. Aris Thorne: It’s arduous to put an exact number on it at this early stage,but a substantial reduction is definitely plausible. The use of abundant, non-exotic materials in flow batteries, coupled with simpler manufacturing processes, should translate into significantly lower upfront costs for consumers.We’re talking potentially thousands of dollars in savings.
Time.news: This technology is being developed in australia. How meaningful is this innovation for the Australian energy market, specifically?
Dr.Aris Thorne: Australia has some of the highest rates of rooftop solar adoption in the world.Though, the intermittent nature of solar power presents a challenge for grid stability. Affordable and efficient home battery storage, like this flow battery, is crucial for maximizing the benefits of solar and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. It will allow Australian households to become more self-sufficient and contribute to a cleaner energy future.
Time.news: The team is currently 3D printing prototypes and testing them in real-world conditions.What are some key factors they’ll be looking for during these tests?
Dr. Aris Thorne: Durability and longevity are critical. They’ll want to see how well the battery performs over many charge and discharge cycles, especially under varying temperature conditions. Stability is another key aspect. They must ensure the battery maintains its performance over time and doesn’t degrade rapidly.Cost-effectiveness in real-world scenarios including the effects of environmental factors also need to be determined.
Time.news: What advice would you give to homeowners currently considering investing in solar energy or battery storage solutions?
Dr.Aris Thorne: Keep an eye on developments in flow battery technology. This Monash University innovation, if successful, could offer a cheaper, safer, and more sustainable option to lithium-ion batteries in the near future. While it’s not quite ready for market yet, it’s worth factoring in the potential arrival of these next-generation batteries when making your long-term energy plans.For those who have already used existing batteries,it may be beneficial to look into incentives like rebates.
Time.news: So, potentially a few years before we see these in our garages, as the researcher mentions. Any final thoughts on the broader implications of this technology for the energy transition?
Dr. Aris Thorne: This is more than just a better battery; it’s an enabler for a truly decentralized and resilient energy system. By making home energy storage more accessible and affordable, we can empower individuals to take control of their energy production and consumption, reducing our collective carbon footprint and accelerating the transition to a clean energy future. This kind of research and progress is vital for creating a sustainable world.
Time.news: Dr. Thorne, thank you for your valuable insights.
