Improving the electrochemical characteristics and performance of a neutral all-iron flow battery by using the iron reduction bacteria

Abstract

At present, the all-iron redox flow batteries (RFBs) have greater application potential due to high accessibility of electrolytes compared to traditional RFBs. Meanwhile, although electroactive bacteria can accelerate the electrons transfer, their potential to improve the performance of RFBs has been overlooked. Previously, we had confirmed that ferrous-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) could enhance the performance of an all-iron RFB, therefore we conducted several batch experiments and chronopotentiometry experiments by using the ferric-reducing bacteria (FeRB) or mixed culture (FeOB and FeRB) to demonstrate whether they have the same or stronger effects on Fe3+-DTPA/Na4[Fe(CN)6] RFB. The results showed that the experimental reactors could achieve higher charging current density and initial cathodic potential during constant voltage charging process. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data and cyclic voltammetry curves demonstrated that the polarization impedance increased slower and reduction peak potential of experimental groups also emerged a positive shift compared to CK. According to chronopotentiometry experiments results, the microbes could function at maximum 0.3 M, 12 mA/cm2, and also improved the charging specific capacity. Combined the SEM pictures and microbial composition analysis, the main functional electroactive FeRB were Alcaligenes, Corynebacterium and Bacillus, which indicated to have important potential in improving the performance of RFBs.