Chemists Boost Grid-Scale Energy Storage

ORNL advances in flow-battery research showcase how modifications in glyme-based electrolytes can improve efficient energy storage.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have advanced the knowledge required to improve large-scale energy storage. Their findings suggest positive implications for U.S. energy security, including increased national power grid reliability and affordability. The study focuses on enhancing the stability and efficiency of flow batteries, a promising energy-storage system, by modifying glyme-based electrolytes.

Why it matters

Meeting the growing energy storage needs at grid scale will require reliable, affordable, and accessible materials in a scalable platform. This research aims to create a stronger, more resilient power grid that can restore electricity across communities after natural disasters. It also helps drive U.S. energy independence and economic growth by reducing reliance on expensive, rare materials like vanadium.

The details

The researchers studied different glyme solvents, which are liquid-ether compounds known for high stability and the ability to dissolve salts. They found that the size of the glyme molecules directly affects the likelihood of sulfur materials penetrating the separator in the central battery sandwich, causing energy loss. The glyme solvent with the greatest number of oxygen atoms most effectively reduced this undesirable penetration. The team also discovered that the glyme solvents participate in the ionic movement inside batteries, suggesting that a better-designed solvent could control penetration and speed up charge carrier movement.

  • The study was published in ACS Energy Letters in 2026.

The players

Guang Yang

A researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory who led the study.

Wenda Wu

A researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory who co-authored the study.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

A U.S. Department of Energy research laboratory that conducted the study on improving grid-scale energy storage.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We need to build grid-scale energy storage that is reliable and robust. This is especially important for addressing power shortages during extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods and winter storms. The goal is to create a stronger grid that can restore power across communities as soon as possible after natural disasters.”

— Guang Yang (Mirage News)

“In the lithium-ion battery, a 'central sandwich' contains a central, power-generating station, with electrodes, a separator and solid materials that can store and release the energy. In flow batteries, however, liquids instead of solids power the system.”

— Wenda Wu (Mirage News)

“The unique architecture of the flow battery isolates the tank from the central sandwich, which enables us to tune one parameter without affecting another.”

— Wenda Wu (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue studying different glyme solvents to determine which can best improve the performance of flow batteries over hundreds of charge/discharge cycles.

The takeaway

This research showcases how modifications to flow-battery electrolytes can boost the stability, efficiency, and affordability of grid-scale energy storage, which is crucial for strengthening the U.S. power grid's reliability and resilience, especially during extreme weather events.