Wen, Yue;
(2023)
Catalysis in the all-Vanadium Redox Flow Battery: from the Atomic to the Macro.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
All-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are considered promising technologies for their off-grid application, safe performance, and extended energy storage duration, especially attractive for the large-scale energy storage applications. Despite these advantages, VRFBs still face some challenges, such as low energy density and power density, resulting in high cost. This thesis addressed the current obstacles for VRFBs including the sluggish reaction kinetics of electrode materials and the overlapping potential range of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with the negative redox couple. The addition of Bismuth (Bi) additives has shown significant improvement in battery performance, but the optimal concentration and catalytic mechanism remain uncertain. Through quantitative kinetic analysis, it was revealed that the performance plateau with Bi concentration was linked to the kinetics of the vanadium redox reaction (VRR), and the reaction rate was greatly enhanced with the addition of Bi. In-situ mass spectroscopy measurements confirmed that Bi selectively catalyzes VRR over HER, allowing for higher battery charging potentials without electrolyte imbalance. Further research involved investigating the distributed pattern of in-situ electrodeposition of Bi metal particles on carbonized electrodes. This study used lab X-ray computed tomography techniques and quantitative analysis to correlate with battery performance. Additionally, a novel synthesis method was used to produce evenly distributed Bi metal nanoparticles on a graphene support, leading to a novel Bi-based catalyst for VRFBs. In-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies provided insights into the catalytic mechanism of Bi under different potentials and electrolyte compositions, elucidating the dynamic process of the Bi catalytic process. Overall, this research contributes to the development and optimization of electrode structures for VRFBs. By addressing catalysis challenges and enhancing battery performance, these findings may help advance the practical implementation of VRFBs in energy storage applications.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Catalysis in the all-Vanadium Redox Flow Battery: from the Atomic to the Macro |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2023. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| 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/10180447 |
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