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Updated: Jan 14, 2026
09:49
A Protocol for Electrochemical Evaluations and State of Charge Diagnostics of a Symmetric Organic Redox Flow Battery
Published on: February 13, 2017
10.9K
Dual-Pathway Redox-Targeting Catalysis Promoting Electrochemical Kinetics for Bromine-Based Flow Batteries
Qianyun Wang1,2, Qiming Zhang1,2, Jianwei Wang1,2
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, Liaoning, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|October 25, 2025
Summary
A novel catalyst, cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) on nitrogenous carbon (NC), enhances bromine-based flow batteries (BFBs) by improving cathode kinetics and reducing bromine permeation for efficient large-scale energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Bromine-based flow batteries (BFBs) offer high energy density, safety, and low cost for large-scale energy storage.
- Commercialization is hindered by poor cathode activity and bromine permeation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a catalyst to enhance the performance of bromine cathodes in BFBs.
- To improve electrochemical kinetics and reduce bromine permeation.
Main Methods:
- Designed a Prussian blue analogue, Co2Fe(CN)6 (CoHCF), coated with a nitrogenous carbon composite (CoHCF@NC).
- Investigated the two-pathway redox-targeting catalysis enabled by CoHCF coupled with Br2/Br-.
- Utilized the ZIF-derived nitrogenous carbon framework for electron transmission.
Main Results:
- The CoHCF@NC catalyst demonstrated efficient redox-targeting catalysis, promoting electrochemical kinetics.
- Zinc-bromine flow batteries with CoHCF@NC achieved high energy efficiencies (86.1% at 80 mA cm-2, 65.3% at 200 mA cm-2).
- Stable operation for 300 cycles at 80 mA cm-2 was achieved.
Conclusions:
- The CoHCF@NC catalyst effectively enhances BFB performance by improving cathode kinetics.
- This strategy offers a pathway to overcome limitations in BFB technology for practical applications.
- The study highlights the potential of redox-targeting catalysis for advanced energy storage systems.
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