Electrochemical performance and transport properties of a Nafion membrane in a hydrogen-bromine cell environment

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6234792

Baldwin, R S

The overall energy conversion efficiency of a hydrogen-bromine energy storage system is highly dependent upon the characteristics and performance of the ion-exchange membrane utilized as a half-cell separator. The electrochemical performance and transport properties of a duPont Nafion membrane in an aqueous HBr-Br/sub 2/ environment were investigated. Membrane conductivity data are presented as a function of HBr concentration and temperature for the determination of ohmic voltage losses across the membrane in an operational cell. Diffusion-controlled bromine permeation rates and permeabilities are presented as functions of solution composition and temperature. Relationships between the degree of membrane hydration and the membrane transport characteristics are discussed. The solution chemistry of an operational hydrogen-bromine cell undergoing charge from 45% HBr to 5% HBr is discussed, and, based upon the experimentally observed bromine permeation behavior, predicted cell coulombic losses due to bromine diffusion through the membrane are presented as a function of the cell state-of-charge.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6234792
• Report Number(s): N-87-23718; NASA-TM-89862; E-3529; NAS-1.15:89862
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300503* -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
BROMINE
CHEMISTRY
CONVERSION
DATA
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FUEL CELLS
HALOGENS
HYDROBROMIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
LOSSES
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PERMEABILITY
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POWER SUPPLIES
REGENERATIVE FUEL CELLS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
STORAGE
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS