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Optimization of electrode characteristics for the Br2/H2 redox flow cell

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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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge helpful discussion with Venkat Srinivasan and Vincent Battaglia. This work was funded by Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) of the U.S. Department of Energy (contract nos. DE-AC02-05CH11231 for LBNL and DE-AR0000262 for TVN Systems, Inc.) with cost share provided by TVN Systems, Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA

    Michael C. Tucker & Adam Z. Weber

  2. TVN Systems, Inc., Lawrence, USA

    Guangyu Lin

  3. Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA

    Trung Van Nguyen

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, 60115, USA

    Kyu Taek Cho

Authors
  1. Michael C. Tucker
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  2. Kyu Taek Cho
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  3. Adam Z. Weber
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  4. Guangyu Lin
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  5. Trung Van Nguyen
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Correspondence to Michael C. Tucker.

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Tucker, M.C., Cho, K.T., Weber, A.Z. et al. Optimization of electrode characteristics for the Br2/H2 redox flow cell. J Appl Electrochem 45, 11–19 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0772-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0772-1

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