• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.422-428
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• 2023

The electrical contact resistance between the bipolar plate (BP) and the carbon felt electrode (CFE), which are in contact by the stack clamping pressure, has a great impact on the stack efficiency because of the relatively low clamping pressure of the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) stack. In this study, a polyethylene (PE) composite-CFE hybrid bipolar plate structure is developed through a local heat welding process to reduce such contact resistance and improve cell performance. The PE matrix of the carbon fiber composite BP is locally melted to create a direct contact structure between the carbon fibers of CFE and the carbon fibers of BP, thereby reducing the electrical contact resistance. Area specific resistance (ASR) and gas permeability are measured to evaluate the performance of the PE composite-CFE hybrid bipolar plate. In addition, an acid aging test is performed to measure stack reliability. Finally, a VFRB unit cell charge/discharge test is performed to compare and analyze the performance of the developed PE composite-CFE hybrid BP and the conventional BP.

• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2024

The bipolar plate is a crucial element of the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) as it serves as both the electrical conduit and the structural support for the cell within the VRFB stack. Although, the graphite material is primarily used for the bipolar plate due to its excellent electrical conductivity, a significant limitation of performance of the VRFB is present due to high interfacial contact resistance (ICR) arises between the electrode and bipolar plate in the cell stack. This study aims to develop an integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly that will address the limitations of the ICR. The integrated assembly was constructed using a single carbon felt with thermoplastic and thermoset polymers utilizing hot press method. Experimental results verify that the bipolar plate assembly exhibits reduced area specific resistance (ASR) due to the continuous electrical path. Additionally, from the charge/discharge cell test results, the integrated assembly shows improved cell performance. Therefore, the developed integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly can serve as a substitute for the conventional bipolar plate and electrode assembly.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.593-598
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• 2011

The IPA-co-HDO-co-(TPA/MA) copolymers for all-vanadium redox flow battery were synthesized by melt condensation polymerization using isophthalic acid(IPA), 1,6-hexandiol (HDO), terephthalic acid(TPA) and maleic anhydride(MA). The amination of chloromethylated IPA-co- HDO-co-(TPA/MA)(CIHTM) copolymer was carried out using trimethylamine, and the anion exchange membrane was also prepared by UV crosslinking reaction. The structure and thermal stability of IHTM copolymers were confirmed by FTIR, $^1H$ NMR, and TGA analysis. The anion membrane properties such as water uptake, ion exchange capacity, electric resistance and electrical conductivity, were measured by gravimetry, titration and LCR meter. The efficiency of the all-vanadium redox flow battery was analyzed. The ion exchange capacity, electric resistance and electrical conductivity were 1.10 meq/g, $1.98{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$, and 0.009 S/cm, respectively. The efficiency of charge-discharge, voltage, and energy for the allvanadium redox flow battery were 96.5, 74.6, 70.0%, respectively.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.200-205
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• 2017

The three electrodes (carbon felt) were tested in all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) to confirm the its usefulness. The electrode property was measured by the CV (cyclic voltammetry) method. The current ratio of maximum peak(IPA/IPC) in GF040BH5 and GF051BH3 had almost the same value compared to that in XF30A. The performances of VRFB using the each electrode were measured during 5 cycles of charge-discharge at the current density of $60mA/cm^2$. An average energy efficiency of the VRFB was 77.8%, 77.3%, and 79.2% for XF30A, GF040BH5 and GF051BH3, respectively. It was confirmed from the data that GF040BH5 and GF051BH3 is well suited for use in a VRFB as a electrode, like XF30A.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.109-118
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• 1995

In this study, cell resistivity and membrane resistivity were measured in Fe-Cr redox-fiow battery system using commercial ion-exchange membranes. Cell resistivity and membrane resistivity at charging periods are higher than at discharging periods. And at the same membrane the resistivity were increased with increasing SOC. The resistivity of hydrocarbon type Seiemion CMV membrane was smaller than perfluoro type Nafion 117 and Nafion 551. The cell resistivity and membrne resistivity of CMV membrane at 0 % SOC was $12.864\Omega \textrm{cm}^2$ and $8.751\Omega \textrm{cm}^2$, respectively.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.365-371
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• 2016

Cell performance of the Zn-Br redox flow battery (ZBRFB) using two different type's membrane (Nafion117 and SF-600) was evaluated at $20mA/cm^2$ of current density in 1M (mol/L) $ZnBr_2$ + 2M KCl + 0.3M EMPBr(1-ethyl-1-methyl pyrrolidinium bromide) electrolyte. The average energy efficiencies of ZBRFB were 74.9% and 74.7% for Nafion117 and SF-600, respectively. The electrolyte added the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide (EMICA) as an additive was tested for the electrolyte in ZBRFB using SF-600 at $30mA/cm^2$ of current density. An average energy efficiency of the ZBRFB was 74.5% and 77.4% for the electrolyte non-added EMICA and added 1wt% of EMICA, respectively. ZBRFB using the electrolyte added EMICA was showed the higher performance than that using the electrolyte non-added EMICA.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.531-535
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• 2017

The performance of all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) was tested with an increase of the current density. APS membrane (anion exchange membrane) and GF050CH (cabon felt) were used as a separator and electrode, respectively. An average energy efficiency of the VRFB was 79.5%, 68.1%, and 62.8% for the current density of $60mA/cm^2$, $120mA/cm^2$, and $160mA/cm^2$, respectively. It was confirmed that VRFB can be used as a energy storage system at the higher current density even if the energy efficiency was deceased about 21%.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2011

The all vanadium redox-flow battery (V-RFB) is investigating as one of large-scale power storage systems. Particularly, V-RFB is being investigated as one of the power storage systems for the load leveling and output power equalization of the power systems using renewable energy such as solar and wind. In this paper, it was explained for the principle and construction, recent research review, economy, element technology in V-RFB.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.372-377
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• 2016

The carbon felt used as the electrode of vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) requires imprived electrochemical activity for better battery performance and efficiencies. Many efforts have been tried to improve electrochemical activity of the carbon felt as electrodes. In this study the alkali solution, KOH, is applied on surface treatment of the carbon felt electrode. The carbon felts were treated with KOH under room temperature and $80^{\circ}C$. The isopropyl alcohol was applied to improve wettability of the carbon felt during KOH treatment. The KOH treated carbon felt was analyzed by using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS analysis of carbon felt electrode revealed on increase in the overall surface oxygen content of the carbon felts after KOH treatment. Also, cyclic voltametry tests showed electrochemical characteristics enhancement of the carbon felt.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.256-262
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• 2021

A carbon felt electrode was prepared using ozone and ammonia sequential treatment and applied as an electrode for a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). The physical and electrochemical analyses demonstrate that the oxygen groups facilitate nitrogen doping in the carbon felt. Carbon felt (J5O3+NH3), which was subjected to ammonia heat treatment after ozone treatment, showed higher oxygen and nitrogen contents than carbon felt (J5NH3+O3), which was subjected to ammonia heat treatment first and then ozone treatment. From the charging/discharging of VRFB, the J5O3+NH3 carbon felt electrode showed 14.4 Ah/L discharge capacity at a current density of 150 mA /cm², which was 15% and 33% higher than that of J5NH3+O3 and non-activated carbon felt (J5), respectively. These results show that ozone and ammonia sequential treatment is an effective carbon felt activation method to increase the performance of the vanadium redox flow battery.