Abstract
A soluble-lead redox flow battery with corrugated-graphite sheet and reticulated-vitreous carbon as positive and negative current collectors is assembled and performance tested. In the cell, electrolyte comprising of 1·5 M lead (II) methanesulfonate and 0·9 M methanesulfonic acid with sodium salt of lignosulfonic acid as additive is circulated through the reaction chamber at a flow rate of 50 ml min − 1. During the charge cycle, pure lead (Pb) and lead dioxide (PbO2) from the soluble lead (II) species are electrodeposited onto the surface of the negative and positive current collectors, respectively. Both the electrodeposited materials are characterized by XRD, XPS and SEM. Phase purity of synthesized lead (II) methanesulfonate is unequivocally established by single crystal X-ray diffraction followed by profile refinements using high resolution powder data. During the discharge cycle, electrodeposited Pb and PbO2 are dissolved back into the electrolyte. Since lead ions are produced during oxidation and reduction at the negative and positive plates, respectively there is no risk of crossover during discharge cycle, preventing the possibility of lowering the overall efficiency of the cell. As the cell employs a common electrolyte, the need of employing a membrane is averted. It has been possible to achieve a capacity value of 114 mAh g − 1 at a load current-density of 20 mA cm − 2 with the cell at a faradaic efficiency of 95%. The cell is tested for 200 cycles with little loss in its capacity and efficiency.
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Acknowledgements
Financial support from the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, under the Energy Storage Systems Initiative is gratefully acknowledged. A B thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, for a Senior Research Fellowship.
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BANERJEE, A., SAHA, D., Row, T.N.G. et al. A soluble-lead redox flow battery with corrugated graphite sheet and reticulated vitreous carbon as positive and negative current collectors. Bull Mater Sci 36, 163–170 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-013-0426-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-013-0426-7