Hydrogen evolution at the negative electrode of the all-vanadium redox flow batteries

Che Nan Sun, Frank M. Delnick, Loïc Baggetto, Gabriel M. Veith, Thomas A. Zawodzinski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

122 Scopus citations

Abstract

This work demonstrates a quantitative method to determine the hydrogen evolution rate occurring at the negative carbon electrode of the all vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). Two carbon papers examined by buoyancy measurements yield distinct hydrogen formation rates (0.170 and 0.005 μmol min -1 g-1). The carbon papers have been characterized using electron microscopy, nitrogen gas adsorption, capacitance measurement by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We find that the specific electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of the carbon material has a strong influence on the hydrogen generation rate. This is discussed in light of the use of high surface area material to obtain high reaction rates in the VRFB.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)560-564
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Power Sources
Volume248
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the US Department of Energy Office of Electricity Storage Systems Program directed by Dr. Imre Gyuk and the University of Tennessee Governor's Chair Fund for support of this work. Dr. Hui Zhou is gratefully acknowledged for his support during SEM collection. This work was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Materials Sciences and Engineering Division (LB, GMV).

FundersFunder number
University of Tennessee Governor
U.S. Department of Energy
Basic Energy Sciences
Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering

    Keywords

    • Electrochemical surface area
    • Hydrogen evolution
    • Redox flow battery
    • Side reaction

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