Spectroscopic Investigations of the Fouling Process on Nafion Membranes in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Journal of Membrane Science, 366(1-2):325-334

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2010.10.018· OSTI ID:1008231

Vijayakumar, M; Sivakumar, Bhuvaneswari M; Nachimuthu, Ponnusamy; Schwenzer, Birgit; Kim, Soowhan; Yang, Zhenguo; Liu, Jun; Graff, Gordon L; Thevuthasan, Suntharampillai; Hu, Jian Z

The Nafion-117 membrane used in vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The XPS study reveals the chemical identity and environment of vanadium cations accumulated at the surface due to their low diffusivity. On the other hand, the 17O NMR spectrum explores the diffused vanadium cation from the bulk part of Nafion and shows the chemical bonding of cation and the host membrane. The 19F NMR shows the basic Nafion structure is not altered due to the presence of diffused vanadium cation. Based on these spectroscopic studies, the chemical environment of diffused vanadium cation in the Nafion membrane is discussed. This study also shed light into the possible cause for the high diffusivity of certain vanadium cations inside the Nafion membranes.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1008231
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-73754; 44591; 30406
• Journal Information: Journal of Membrane Science, 366(1-2):325-334, Journal Name: Journal of Membrane Science, 366(1-2):325-334 Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 366; ISSN JMESDO; ISSN 0376-7388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
FOULING
MEMBRANES
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
VANADIUM
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY