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Preparation of Ionic Membranes for Zinc/Bromine Storage Batteries

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5848259
 [1];  [1]
  1. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Zinc/bromine flow batteries are being developed for vehicular and utility load leveling applications. During charge, an aqueous zinc bromide salt is electrolyzed to zinc metal and molecular bromine. During discharge, the zinc and bromine react to again form the zinc bromide salt. One serious disadvantage of the microporous separators presently used in the zinc/bromine battery is that modest amounts of bromine and negatively charged bromine moieties permeate through these materials and react with the zinc anode. This results in partial self-discharge of the battery and low coulombic efficiencies. Our approach to this problem is to impregnate the microporous separators with a soluble cationic polyelectrolyte. In laboratory screening tests a sulfonated polysulfide resin and fully fluorinated sulfonic acid polymer substantially reduced bromine permeation with only modest increases in the area resistance.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Federal Energy Management Program Office
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5848259
Report Number(s):
SAND--90-3186C; CONF-910801--1; ON: DE91012008
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English