Development and Investigation of Slurry Electrodes, Novel Materials and Membranes for Tubular Vanadium Redox Batteries

Abstract

In this study Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries will be investigated. Nafion type membranes are mostly being used as separator. Due to the high cost and low H+ V selectivity of Nafion, sulfonated poly-ether-ether-ketone (SPEEK) membranes were produced. SPEEK has lower costs and higher selectivity between H+ V ions which makes it more suitable than Nafion type membranes. In order to increase selectivity and mechanical stability of SPEEK membranes, polyaniline (PANI) was mixed with SPEEK. Significant performance improvements were obtained with SPEEK membranes. A tubular Vanadium RFB was build in order to develop the power density of the planar RFBs. Titanium macroporous tubes and graphite tubes were decided as a suitable assembly for Vanadium RFB. Slurry electrode was introduced into this tubular RFB to increase the contact area between electrode and electrolyte. Significant current density increase was obtained by the addition of slurry electrodes.