Zinc deposition in acid electrolytes

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5113891

McBreen, J; Gannon, E

In the past decade, two aqueous zinc/halogen batteries, the zinc/chlorine, and the zinc/bromine systems, have been considered for load-leveling and vehicular applications. Even though considerable progress has been made in engineering these batteries, several problems related to the zinc electrode have yet to be solved. These are related to the growth of dendritic zinc and a maldistribution of the zinc deposit that can occur during cycling. Both problems are exacerbated by recharge of the battery after partial discharge of the zinc deposit. A survey of the literature indicates that a more desireable zinc morphology can be achieved by use of inorganic additives, fluorinated surfactants, and A-C modulation of the charging current. In this investigation, the deposition of zinc from zinc bromide and zinc chloride electrolytes was investigated under conditions that precluded dendrite growth. The techniques used were cyclic voltammetry, the potential step technique and scanning electron microscopy. The variables investigated were the substrate (zinc and dense graphite), electrolyte pH, inorganic additives (Pb/sup + +/ and Bi/sup 3 +/) and A-V modulation of the charging potential by superimposed square waves.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5113891
• Report Number(s): BNL-31458; CONF-821015-1; ON: DE82017632
• Resource Relation: Conference: Electrochemical Society fall meeting, Detroit, MI, USA, 17 Oct 1982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ZINC
DEPOSITION
ZINC-BROMINE BATTERIES
ELECTRODES
ZINC-CHLORINE BATTERIES
ADDITIVES
DENDRITES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
VOLTAMETRY
CRYSTALS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
METALS
MICROSCOPY
250903* - Energy Storage- Batteries- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
360101 - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication