1 research outputs found
Polysulfide Flow Batteries Enabled by Percolating Nanoscale Conductor Networks
A new approach to flow battery design
is demonstrated wherein diffusion-limited
aggregation of nanoscale conductor particles at ∼1 vol % concentration
is used to impart mixed electronic-ionic conductivity to redox solutions,
forming flow electrodes with embedded current collector networks that
self-heal after shear. Lithium polysulfide flow cathodes of this architecture
exhibit electrochemical activity that is distributed throughout the
volume of flow electrodes rather than being confined to surfaces of
stationary current collectors. The nanoscale network architecture
enables cycling of polysulfide solutions deep into precipitation regimes
that historically have shown poor capacity utilization and reversibility
and may thereby enable new flow battery designs of higher energy density
and lower system cost. Lithium polysulfide half-flow cells operating
in both continuous and intermittent flow mode are demonstrated for
the first time