Highly conductive colloidal carbon based suspension for flow-assisted electrochemical systems

Marco S Alfonso,Hélène Parant,Jinkai Yuan,Wilfrid Neri,Eric Laurichesse,Katerina Kampioti,Annie Colin,Philippe Poulin

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2021.102456

Abstract

SummaryCarbon suspension electrodes are promising for flow-assisted electrochemical energy storage systems. They serve as flowable electrodes in electrolyte solutions of flow batteries, or flow capacitors. They can also be used for other applications such as capacitive deionization of water. However, developments of such suspensions remain challenging. The suspensions should combine low viscosity and high electronic conductivity for optimized performances. In this work, we report a flowable aqueous carbon dispersion which exhibits a viscosity of only 2 Pa.s at a shear rate of 5 s−1 for a concentration of particles of 7 wt%. This suspension displays an electronic conductivity of 65 mS/cm, nearly two orders of magnitude greater than previously investigated related materials. The investigated suspensions are stabilized by sodium alginate and arabic gum in the presence of ammonium sulfate. Their use in flowable systems for the storage and discharge of electrical charges is demonstrated.

Highlights

Extensive research is undertaken for the management of energy with new technologies that exploit renewable sources (Aneke and Wang, 2016; Akinyele and Rayudu, 2014; Chakrabarti et al, 2020)
Carbon black dispersions have been used as active material in different flow-assisted electrochemical energy storage systems (FAESs) (Skyllas-Kazacos et al, 2011; Skyllas Kazacos et al, 1986; Weber et al, 2011; Liu et al, 2020; Choi et al, 2020)
The carbon black dispersions serve as flowable electrodes in semi-solid flow batteries dispersed in an electrolyte solution (Duduta et al, 2011) or as active materials in the electrochemical flow capacitor (Presser et al, 2012) or in the flow capacitive deionization of water (Hatzell et al, 2014; Rommerskirchen et al, 2020)

Summary

Introduction

Extensive research is undertaken for the management of energy with new technologies that exploit renewable sources (Aneke and Wang, 2016; Akinyele and Rayudu, 2014; Chakrabarti et al, 2020). Carbon black dispersions have been used as active material in different flow-assisted electrochemical energy storage systems (FAESs) (Skyllas-Kazacos et al, 2011; Skyllas Kazacos et al, 1986; Weber et al, 2011; Liu et al, 2020; Choi et al, 2020). Paroda et al (Porada et al, 2014) with a conductivity of 14 mS/cm, Dannison et al (Dennison et al, 2014) and Hatzell et al (Hatzell et al, 2017) with conductivities of 0.01 mS/cm and 0.3 mS/cm, and more recently Parant et al (Parant et al, 2017) with a conductivity of a few mS/cm In this latter work, the authors found an optimal formulation with commercial acetylene carbon black at a concentration of 8.0 wt% in water. They have tested other carbon black materials but with less success because these other materials become too viscous with increasing concentration

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Results

Conclusion