Optimization of electrode characteristics for the Br₂/H₂ redox flow cell
Abstract
The Br₂/H₂ redox flow cell shows promise as a high-power, low-cost energy storage device. The effect of various aspects of material selection, processing, and assembly of electrodes on the operation, performance, and efficiency of the system is determined. In particular, (+) electrode thickness, cell compression, hydrogen pressure, and (–) electrode architecture are investigated. Increasing hydrogen pressure and depositing the (–) catalyst layer on the membrane instead of on the carbon-paper backing layers have a large positive impact on performance, enabling a limiting current density above 2 A cm-2 and a peak power density of 1.4 W cm-2. Maximum energy efficiency of 79% is achieved. In addition, the root cause of limiting-current behavior in this system is elucidated, where it is found that Br- reversibly adsorbs at the Pt (–) electrode for potentials exceeding a critical value, and the extent of Br- coverage is potential-dependent. This phenomenon limits maximum cell current density and must be addressed in system modeling and design. These findings are expected to lower system cost and enable higher efficiency.
- Authors:
-
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- TVN Systems, Inc., Lawrence, KS (United States)
- Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- TVN Systems, Inc., Lawrence, KS (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1164831
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AR0000262
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Applied Electrochemistry
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 45; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0021-891X
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 25 ENERGY STORAGE; redox flow cell; bromine; flow battery; hydrogen bromine
Citation Formats
Tucker, Michael C., Cho, Kyu Taek, Weber, Adam Z., Lin, Guangyu, and Van Nguyen, Trung. Optimization of electrode characteristics for the Br₂/H₂ redox flow cell. United States: N. p., 2014.
Web. doi:10.1007/s10800-014-0772-1.
Tucker, Michael C., Cho, Kyu Taek, Weber, Adam Z., Lin, Guangyu, & Van Nguyen, Trung. Optimization of electrode characteristics for the Br₂/H₂ redox flow cell. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0772-1
Tucker, Michael C., Cho, Kyu Taek, Weber, Adam Z., Lin, Guangyu, and Van Nguyen, Trung. Fri .
"Optimization of electrode characteristics for the Br₂/H₂ redox flow cell". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0772-1. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1164831.
@article{osti_1164831,
title = {Optimization of electrode characteristics for the Br₂/H₂ redox flow cell},
author = {Tucker, Michael C. and Cho, Kyu Taek and Weber, Adam Z. and Lin, Guangyu and Van Nguyen, Trung},
abstractNote = {The Br₂/H₂ redox flow cell shows promise as a high-power, low-cost energy storage device. The effect of various aspects of material selection, processing, and assembly of electrodes on the operation, performance, and efficiency of the system is determined. In particular, (+) electrode thickness, cell compression, hydrogen pressure, and (–) electrode architecture are investigated. Increasing hydrogen pressure and depositing the (–) catalyst layer on the membrane instead of on the carbon-paper backing layers have a large positive impact on performance, enabling a limiting current density above 2 A cm-2 and a peak power density of 1.4 W cm-2. Maximum energy efficiency of 79% is achieved. In addition, the root cause of limiting-current behavior in this system is elucidated, where it is found that Br- reversibly adsorbs at the Pt (–) electrode for potentials exceeding a critical value, and the extent of Br- coverage is potential-dependent. This phenomenon limits maximum cell current density and must be addressed in system modeling and design. These findings are expected to lower system cost and enable higher efficiency.},
doi = {10.1007/s10800-014-0772-1},
journal = {Journal of Applied Electrochemistry},
number = 1,
volume = 45,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Fri Oct 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}
Web of Science
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