Unraveling V(V)-V(IV)-V(III)-V(II) Redox Electrochemistry in Highly Concentrated Mixed Acidic Media for a Vanadium Redox Flow Battery: Origin of the Parasitic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Electrochemical Imaging of Precisely-Defined Redox and Reactive Interfaces

Understanding the diverse electrochemical reactions occurring at electrode-electrolyte interfaces (EEIs) is a critical challenge to developing more efficient energy conversion and storage technologies. Establishing a predictive molecular-level understanding of solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) is challenging due to the presence of multiple intertwined chemical and electrochemical processes occurring at battery electrodes. Similarly, chemical conversions in reactive electrochemical systems are often influenced by the heterogeneous distribution of active sites, surface defects, and catalyst particle sizes. In this mini review, we highlight an emerging field of interfacial science that isolates the impact of specific chemical species by preparing precisely-defined EEIs and visualizing the reactivity of their individual components using single-entity characterization techniques. We highlight the broad applicability and versatility of these methods, along with current state-of-the-art instrumentation and future opportunities for these approaches to address key scientific challenges related to batteries, chemical separations, and fuel cells. We establish that controlled preparation of well-defined electrodes combined with single entity characterization will be crucial to filling key knowledge gaps and advancing the theories used to describe and predict chemical and physical processes occurring at EEIs and accelerating new materials discovery for energy applications.

Extending the lifetime of vanadium redox flow batteries by reactivation of carbon electrode materials

The degradation and aging of carbon felt electrodes is a main reason for the performance loss of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries over extended operation time. In this study, the chemical mechanisms for carbon electrode degradation are investigated and distinct differences in the degradation mechanisms on positive and negative electrodes have been revealed. A combination of surface analysis techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was applied for this purpose. In addition to understanding the chemical and physical alterations of the aged electrodes, a thermal method for reactivating aged electrodes was developed. The reactivation process was successfully applied on artificially aged electrodes as well as on electrodes from a real-world industrial vanadium redox flow battery system. The aforementioned analysis methods provided insight and understanding into the chemical mechanisms of the reactivation procedure. By applying the reactivation method, the lifetime of vanadium redox flow batteries can be significantly extended.

Revealing the Multifaceted Impacts of Electrode Modifications for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Electrodes

Carbon electrodes are one of the key components of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), and their wetting behavior, electrochemical performance, and tendency to side reactions are crucial for cell efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate three different types of electrode modifications: poly(o-toluidine) (POT), Vulcan XC 72R, and an iron-doped carbon-nitrogen base material (Fe-N-C + carbon nanotube (CNT)). By combining synchrotron X-ray imaging with traditional characterization approaches, we give thorough insights into changes caused by each modification in terms of the electrochemical performance in both half-cell reactions, wettability and permeability, and tendency toward the hydrogen evolution side reaction. The limiting performance of POT and Vulcan XC 72R could mainly be ascribed to hindered electrolyte transport through the electrode. Fe-N-C + CNT displayed promising potential in the positive half-cell with improved electrochemical performance and wetting behavior but catalyzed the hydrogen evolution side reaction in the negative half-cell.

Vanadium-Enhanced Intramolecular Redox Property of a Transition-Metal Oxide Molecular Wire

Transition-metal oxide molecular wires are inorganic 1D polymers with elemental diversity. The properties of the materials are tuned by tuning the chemical compositions. The phosphovanadomolybdate molecular wire is synthesized, which is an isostructural material of the phosphomolybdate molecular wire. V is randomly located in the crystal to form {[(HP^IIIO₃)(Mo^VI₅O₁₅)(V^VO₃)]^3-}_n, which is incorporated into the material after the formation of the phosphomolybdate molecular wire. The heat-triggered redox reaction via the intramolecular electron-transfer and oxygen-transfer procedure is promoted after V substitution. Oxygen transfers from {V^VO₆} to {HP^IIIO₃}, and an electron transfers from {HP^IIIO₃} to {V^VO₆} with oxidation of the triangle {HP^IIIO₃} to the corner-sharing tetrahedral {P^V₂O₇} and reduction of the octahedral {V^VO₆} to the pyramidal {V^IVO₅}. The material shows catalytic activity for the aerobic oxidation of alcohol to aldehyde, and good activity with high selectivity is obtained.

Synchrotron X-ray Radiography and Tomography of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries-Cell Design, Electrolyte Flow Geometry, and Gas Bubble Formation

The wetting behavior and affinity to side reactions of carbon-based electrodes in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are highly dependent on the physical and chemical surface structures of the material, as well as on the cell design itself. To investigate these properties, a new cell design was proposed to facilitate synchrotron X-ray imaging. Three different flow geometries were studied to understand the impact on the flow dynamics, and the formation of hydrogen bubbles. By electrolyte injection experiments, it was shown that the maximum saturation of carbon felt was achieved by a flat flow field after the first injection and by a serpentine flow field after continuous flow. Furthermore, the average saturation of the carbon felt was correlated to the cyclic voltammetry current response, and the hydrogen gas evolution was visualized in 3D by X-ray tomography. The capabilities of this cell design and experiments were outlined, which are essential for the evaluation and optimization of cell components of VRFBs.