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The separator-divided soluble lead flow battery

The separator-divided soluble lead flow battery
The separator-divided soluble lead flow battery

The soluble lead flow battery (SLFB) is conventionally configured with an undivided cell chamber. This is possible, unlike other flow batteries, because both electrode active materials are electroplated as solids from a common species, Pb2+, on the electrode surfaces during charging. Physically separating the active materials has the advantage that a single electrolyte and pump circuit can be used; however, failure mechanisms such as electrical shorting may be observed. In addition, a common electrolyte requires that any electrolyte additives are compatible with both half-cell reactions. This paper introduces two new configurations; semi- and fully divided for the SLFB. Cationic, anionic, and microporous separators are assessed for ionic conductivity in SLFB electrolytes, showing that their incorporation adds as little as a 20 mV to the cell voltage. Voltammetry shows the effect of additives on the equilibrium potential and stripping overpotential of PbO2. It is then demonstrated that the incorporation of a separator into the SLFB can reduce failure due to electrical shorting and permit electrode-specific additives to be used. A unit flow cell with electrode area of 100 cm2 is shown to operate for over 300 Ah in the semi-divided configuration, more than doubling the previously reported cycle life for cells of similar size. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Flow battery, Methanesulfonic acid, SLFB, Soluble lead
0021-891X
1-11
Krishna, M.
e399da21-ee25-4c11-9f29-6e11bb1f71c5
Wills, R.G.A.
60b7c98f-eced-4b11-aad9-fd2484e26c2c
Shah, A.A.
5c43ac37-c4a7-4256-88ef-8c427886b924
Hall, D.
2cb79003-da59-4b1f-923f-5a3443cece01
Collins, J.
3b902164-96cf-4fb2-a9e2-23f08f64c5fd
Krishna, M.
e399da21-ee25-4c11-9f29-6e11bb1f71c5
Wills, R.G.A.
60b7c98f-eced-4b11-aad9-fd2484e26c2c
Shah, A.A.
5c43ac37-c4a7-4256-88ef-8c427886b924
Hall, D.
2cb79003-da59-4b1f-923f-5a3443cece01
Collins, J.
3b902164-96cf-4fb2-a9e2-23f08f64c5fd

Krishna, M., Wills, R.G.A., Shah, A.A., Hall, D. and Collins, J. (2018) The separator-divided soluble lead flow battery. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 1-11. (doi:10.1007/s10800-018-1230-2).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The soluble lead flow battery (SLFB) is conventionally configured with an undivided cell chamber. This is possible, unlike other flow batteries, because both electrode active materials are electroplated as solids from a common species, Pb2+, on the electrode surfaces during charging. Physically separating the active materials has the advantage that a single electrolyte and pump circuit can be used; however, failure mechanisms such as electrical shorting may be observed. In addition, a common electrolyte requires that any electrolyte additives are compatible with both half-cell reactions. This paper introduces two new configurations; semi- and fully divided for the SLFB. Cationic, anionic, and microporous separators are assessed for ionic conductivity in SLFB electrolytes, showing that their incorporation adds as little as a 20 mV to the cell voltage. Voltammetry shows the effect of additives on the equilibrium potential and stripping overpotential of PbO2. It is then demonstrated that the incorporation of a separator into the SLFB can reduce failure due to electrical shorting and permit electrode-specific additives to be used. A unit flow cell with electrode area of 100 cm2 is shown to operate for over 300 Ah in the semi-divided configuration, more than doubling the previously reported cycle life for cells of similar size. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 1 July 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 July 2018
Keywords: Flow battery, Methanesulfonic acid, SLFB, Soluble lead

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 422679
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/422679
ISSN: 0021-891X
PURE UUID: 90cded72-e8f2-42e7-a444-d2265a951f1b
ORCID for R.G.A. Wills: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4805-7589

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 30 Jul 2018 16:30
Last modified: 06 Jun 2024 01:41

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Contributors

Author: M. Krishna
Author: R.G.A. Wills ORCID iD
Author: A.A. Shah
Author: D. Hall
Author: J. Collins

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