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Advanced electrode enabled by lignin-derived carbon for high-performance vanadium redox flow battery
Xinyan He1, Liangyu Li1, Su Yan1
1College of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; Institute of Energy Storage Technology, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|October 7, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed advanced electrodes for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) using lignin, an abundant material. These lignin-derived carbon electrodes significantly enhance VRFB performance and longevity.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are crucial for integrating intermittent renewable energy sources.
- Electrode performance directly impacts VRFB energy efficiency and power density.
- Developing cost-effective, high-performance electrodes is essential for VRFB commercialization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate lignin as a precursor for fabricating high-performance VRFB electrodes.
- To enhance the electrochemical activity and hydrophilicity of carbon felt (CF) electrodes.
- To evaluate the performance and cycling stability of VRFBs utilizing lignin-derived carbon modified CF (Lignin-CF) electrodes.
Main Methods:
- Lignin underwent thermal decomposition to produce amorphous carbon particles.
- Carbon particles were used to modify carbon felt (CF) electrodes, creating Lignin-CF.
- Electrochemical activity of Lignin-CF was compared to pristine and heated bare CF.
- VRFB performance, including energy efficiency (EE), voltage efficiency (VE), and power density, was assessed using Lignin-CF as the positive electrode.
Main Results:
- Lignin-derived carbon particles effectively coated the CF surface, increasing active sites and hydrophilicity.
- Lignin-CF exhibited superior electrochemical activity for the VO2+/VO2+ redox couple compared to control electrodes.
- The VRFB with Lignin-CF achieved high average EE (83.3%) and VE (85.0%) over 1000 cycles (16 days) at 100 mA cm-2.
- A high power density of 1053.2 mW cm-2 was recorded.
- The Lignin-CF electrodes demonstrated a longer cycling life than many reported modified CF electrodes.
Conclusions:
- Lignin is a viable, cost-effective precursor for high-performance VRFB electrode materials.
- Lignin-derived carbon modification significantly enhances VRFB electrochemical performance and durability.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for developing affordable electrodes for advanced VRFBs.
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