Mechanically Robust, Sodium-Ion Conducting Membranes for Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries

Aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs) have become increasing attractive for scalable energy storage. However, it remains challenging to develop high voltage, powerful AORFBs because of the lack of catholytes with high redox potential. Herein, we report methyl viologen dibromide ([MV]Br2) as a facile self-trapping, bipolar redox electrolyte material for pH neutral redox flow battery applications. The formation of the [MV](Br3)2 complex was computationally predicted and experimentally confirmed. The low solubility [MV](Br3)2 complex in the catholyte during the battery charge process not only mitigates the crossover of charged tribromide species (Br3-) and addresses the toxicity concern of volatile bromine simultaneously. A 1.53 V bipolar MV/Br AORFB delivered outstanding battery performance at pH neutral conditions, specifically, 100% total capacity retention, 133 mW/cm2 power density, and 60% energy efficiency at 40 mA/cm2.

Download Full-text

Defect-Mediated Conductivity Enhancements in Na3-xPn1-xWxS4 (Pn = P, Sb) using Aliovalent Substitutions

10.26434/chemrxiv.9943961.v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Till Fuchs ◽

Sean Culver ◽

Paul Till ◽

Wolfgang Zeier

Keyword(s):

Ionic Conductivity ◽

Vacancy Concentration ◽

Sodium Ion ◽

High Ionic Conductivity ◽

Ionic Conductors ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

X Ray ◽

Solid State Batteries ◽

Ion Conducting ◽

Very High

The sodium-ion conducting family of Na3PnS4, with Pn = P, Sb, have gained interest for the use in solid-state batteries due to their high ionic conductivity. However, significant improvements to the conductivity have been hampered by the lack of aliovalent dopants that can introduce vacancies into the structure. Inspired by the need for vacancy introduction into Na3PnS4, the solid solutions with WS42- introduction are explored. The influence of the substitution with WS42- for PS43- and SbS43-, respectively, is monitored using a combination of X-ray diffraction, Raman and impedance spectroscopy. With increasing vacancy concentration improvements resulting in a very high ionic conductivity of 13 ± 3 mS·cm-1 for Na2.9P0.9W0.1S4 and 41 ± 8 mS·cm-1 for Na2.9Sb0.9W0.1S4 can be observed. This work acts as a stepping-stone towards further engineering of ionic conductors using vacancy-injection via aliovalent substituents.

Download Full-text

Defect-Mediated Conductivity Enhancements in Na3-xPn1-xWxS4 (Pn = P, Sb) using Aliovalent Substitutions

10.26434/chemrxiv.9943961.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Till Fuchs ◽

Sean Culver ◽

Paul Till ◽

Wolfgang Zeier

Keyword(s):

Ionic Conductivity ◽

Vacancy Concentration ◽

Sodium Ion ◽

High Ionic Conductivity ◽

Ionic Conductors ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

X Ray ◽

Solid State Batteries ◽

Ion Conducting ◽

Very High

The sodium-ion conducting family of Na3PnS4, with Pn = P, Sb, have gained interest for the use in solid-state batteries due to their high ionic conductivity. However, significant improvements to the conductivity have been hampered by the lack of aliovalent dopants that can introduce vacancies into the structure. Inspired by the need for vacancy introduction into Na3PnS4, the solid solutions with WS42- introduction are explored. The influence of the substitution with WS42- for PS43- and SbS43-, respectively, is monitored using a combination of X-ray diffraction, Raman and impedance spectroscopy. With increasing vacancy concentration improvements resulting in a very high ionic conductivity of 13 ± 3 mS·cm-1 for Na2.9P0.9W0.1S4 and 41 ± 8 mS·cm-1 for Na2.9Sb0.9W0.1S4 can be observed. This work acts as a stepping-stone towards further engineering of ionic conductors using vacancy-injection via aliovalent substituents.

Download Full-text