CVD Grown CNTs-Modified Electrodes for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries.

Abstract

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are of considerable importance in large-scale energy storage systems due to their high efficiency, long cycle life and easy scalability. In this work, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-modified electrodes and Nafion 117 membrane are utilised for formulating a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). In a CVD chamber, the growth of CNTs is carried out on an acid-treated graphite felt surface. Cyclic voltammetry of CNT-modified electrode and acid-treated electrode revealed that CNTs presence improve the reaction kinetics of V3+/V2+ and VO2+/VO2+ redox pairs. Battery performance is recorded for analysing, the effect of modified electrodes, varying electrolyte flow rates, varying current densities and effect of removing the current collector plates. CNTs presence enhance the battery performance and offered 96.30% of Coulombic efficiency, 79.33% of voltage efficiency and 76.39% of energy efficiency. In comparison with pristine electrodes, a battery consisting CNTs grown electrodes shows a 14% and 15% increase in voltage efficiency and energy efficiency, respectively. Battery configured without current collector plates performs better as compared to with current collector plates which is possibly due to decrease in battery resistance.