Revealing the Multifaceted Impacts of Electrode Modifications for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Electrodes

Köble K, Schilling M, Eifert L, Bevilacqua N, Fahy KF, Atanassov P, Bazylak A, Zeis R (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c07940

Abstract

Carbon electrodes are one of the key components of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), and their wetting behavior, electrochemical performance, and tendency to side reactions are crucial for cell efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate three different types of electrode modifications: poly(o-toluidine) (POT), Vulcan XC 72R, and an iron-doped carbon-nitrogen base material (Fe-N-C + carbon nanotube (CNT)). By combining synchrotron X-ray imaging with traditional characterization approaches, we give thorough insights into changes caused by each modification in terms of the electrochemical performance in both half-cell reactions, wettability and permeability, and tendency toward the hydrogen evolution side reaction. The limiting performance of POT and Vulcan XC 72R could mainly be ascribed to hindered electrolyte transport through the electrode. Fe-N-C + CNT displayed promising potential in the positive half-cell with improved electrochemical performance and wetting behavior but catalyzed the hydrogen evolution side reaction in the negative half-cell.

Authors with CRIS profile

Roswitha Zeis Professur für Elektrische Wasserstoffsysteme

Involved external institutions

University of California Irvine US United States (USA) (US) University of Toronto CA Canada (CA) Helmholtz Institut Ulm DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Köble, K., Schilling, M., Eifert, L., Bevilacqua, N., Fahy, K.F., Atanassov, P.,... Zeis, R. (2023). Revealing the Multifaceted Impacts of Electrode Modifications for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Electrodes. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c07940

MLA:

Köble, Kerstin, et al. "Revealing the Multifaceted Impacts of Electrode Modifications for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Electrodes." ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces (2023).

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