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Electrode Materials for Enhancing the Performance and Cycling Stability of Zinc Iodide Flow Batteries at High Current Densities

ShakeriHosseinabad, Fatemeh; Frost, Brandon; Said, Samia; Xu, Chaochen; Behnoudfar, Diba; Amini, Kiana; Momodu, Damilola; ... Roberts, Edward PL; + view all (2023) Electrode Materials for Enhancing the Performance and Cycling Stability of Zinc Iodide Flow Batteries at High Current Densities. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces , 15 (29) pp. 34711-34725. 10.1021/acsami.3c03785. Green open access

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Abstract

Aqueous redox flow battery systems that use a zinc negative electrode have a relatively high energy density. However, high current densities can lead to zinc dendrite growth and electrode polarization, which limit the battery's high power density and cyclability. In this study, a perforated copper foil with a high electrical conductivity was used on the negative side, combined with an electrocatalyst on the positive electrode in a zinc iodide flow battery. A significant improvement in the energy efficiency (ca. 10% vs using graphite felt on both sides) and cycling stability at a high current density of 40 mA cm-2 was observed. A long cycling stability with a high areal capacity of 222 mA h cm-2 is obtained in this study, which is the highest reported areal capacity for zinc-iodide aqueous flow batteries operating at high current density, in comparison to previous studies. Additionally, the use of a perforated copper foil anode in combination with a novel flow mode was discovered to achieve consistent cycling at exceedingly high current densities of >100 mA cm-2. In situ and ex situ characterization techniques, including in situ atomic force microscopy coupled with in situ optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction, are applied to clarify the relationship between zinc deposition morphology on the perforated copper foil and battery performance in two different flow field conditions. With a portion of the flow going through the perforations, a significantly more uniform and compact zinc deposition was observed compared to the case where all of the flow passed over the surface of the electrode. Results from modeling and simulation support the conclusion that the flow of a fraction of electrolyte through the electrode enhances mass transport, enabling a more compact deposit.

Type: Article
Title: Electrode Materials for Enhancing the Performance and Cycling Stability of Zinc Iodide Flow Batteries at High Current Densities
Location: United States
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c03785
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c03785
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: battery performance, cycling stability, electrode materials, high current density, in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy, zinc deposition, zinc–iodide battery
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10174003
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