Alternative low cost electrodes for hybrid flow batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016190604-A1
Application number	US-201514984416-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery is provided. In one example, the electrode may include a plastic mesh; and a coating on the plastic mesh. The coating may be a hydrophilic coating or a conductive coating and the electrode may have an electrode reaction potential is less than 0.8V. Further, a method of manufacturing a coated plastic mesh electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery is provided. In one example method, the steps include fabricating a plastic mesh, treating the plastic mesh by applying a solvent treatment or a plasma treatment or a mechanical abrasion treatment; coating the plastic mesh with a material selected from: carbon inks, metal oxides, and hydrophilic polymers.

First claim

1 . An electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery, comprising:
a plastic mesh; and a coating on the plastic mesh, wherein the coating is a hydrophilic coating or a conductive coating and wherein an electrode reaction potential is less than 0.8V.

2 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic coating is selected from:
metal oxides or hydrophilic polymers.

3 . The electrode of claim 2 , wherein the coating is hydrophilic polymer perfluorosulfonic acid.

4 . The electrode of claim 2 , wherein the coating is the hydrophilic polymer sulfonated polyether ether ketone.

5 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the conductive coating is a conductive carbon based material.

6 . The electrode of claim 5 , wherein the conductive coating is a carbon ink.

7 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the coated plastic mesh is treated with a solvent treatment technique or a plasma treatment technique or a mechanical abrasion technique.

8 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the plastic mesh is one of a unipolar mesh, a bipolar mesh, a woven mesh, or a stretched mesh.

9 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the coated plastic mesh electrode has an open volume of 10% to 70%, a thickness of between about 0.20 mm to about 0.50 mm, and an open area of 15% to 65%.

10 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the coated plastic mesh electrode has a water contact angle of less than 45°.

11 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein a conductive coating is used for both a plating electrode and a redox electrode.

12 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein a non-conductive coating is used for a plating electrode.

13 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the plastic mesh is one of polypropylene or polyolefin.

14 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the plastic mesh is coated with the coating by using a technique selected from:
air brushing, dip coating, or roller coating.

15 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the potential of the electrode does not decrease by more than 0.1 volts at a current density less than 20 mA/cm 2 .

16 . The electrode of claim 2 , wherein the negative pressure within a negative electrode compartment does not increase relative to a non-coated plastic mesh electrode from cycle to cycle.

17 . A method of manufacturing a coated plastic mesh electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery, comprising:
fabricating a plastic mesh; treating a plastic mesh by applying a solvent treatment or a plasma treatment or a mechanical abrasion treatment; coating the plastic mesh with a material selected from:
carbon inks, metal oxides, and hydrophilic polymers.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the plastic mesh is made from polypropylene.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plastic mesh is made from polyolefin.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the coating is applied to the plastic mesh by using a technique selected from:
dip coating, roller coating, or air brushing.

Assignees

• Ess Technology Inc

Inventors

• Evans Craig E
• Song Yang
• Chen Jeffrey

Classifications

• H01M8/188

  by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries · CPC title

• H01M8/0239

  Organic resins; Organic polymers · CPC title

• H01M8/0245

  in the form of layered or coated products · CPC title

• H01M4/8803 Primary

  Supports for the deposition of the catalytic active composition (H01M4/90 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M4/8828

  Coating with slurry or ink · CPC title