Abstract

Graphite filled thermoplastic based composites are an adequate material for bipolar plates in redox flow battery applications. Unlike metals, composite plates can provide excellent resistance to the highly aggressive chemical environment at elevated temperatures in combination with an electrochemical potential in battery operation. The chapter therefore gives an overview of the most important requirements for the graphite-plastic composite material and thus also for the bipolar plates, as well as the different characterization methods of the bipolar plates. In the following, both the modern composite materials based on polypropylene (PP) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and their general properties are described with a focus on improved long-term stability. Furthermore, recycling is also considered. One section is dedicated to seals, which - as so often - are an underestimated component of redox flow batteries. In this gasket part of the chapter, the most common materials and interactions between gaskets and other stack components are presented, as well as the material properties, characterization and processing methods of the gaskets.

Highlights

  • Redox flow batteries (RFB) are electrochemical reactors suitable for storing electrical energy by chemical reactions [1]

  • RFBs, in particular vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), have reached a considerable degree of technical maturity and the systems are available on the market through many suppliers

  • In order to characterize the influence of the different carbon blacks (CB) types on the conductivity, the secondary CB are integrated and evaluated in various testing and production series to compare the new materials with the current neat carbon black

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Summary

Introduction

Redox flow batteries (RFB) are electrochemical reactors suitable for storing electrical energy by chemical reactions [1]. Besides the Vanadiumtechnology, there some other technologies (metallobased or organic RFBs), which will not be further considered Due to these harsh conditions, superimposed by an electrochemical potential, graphite-based bipolar plates with polymeric binders are used in almost all applications in these battery stacks. The graphite composite plates are an unbeatable material in terms of stability under the above-mentioned corrosive conditions, and the cost-intensive coated metal plates have no chance They have been operated very adequately several times over the years. The gasket is a very important component of the battery stack and tends to be heavily underestimated. It plays a key role in the mechanical properties of the stack. Key Components in the Redox-Flow Battery: Bipolar Plates and Gaskets – Different Materials. Compensate tolerances and dimensional changes during stack-assembling caused by interaction with all stack components

Technical requirements of bipolar plates and gaskets
General concepts of bipolar plate manufacturing
Binder polymers
Graphite materials and fillers
Recycling
Characterization data of RFB bipolar plate materials
Electrical conductivity measurements (In-plane)
Qualification of secondary raw materials by thermogravimetric analysis
Gaskets application and qualification
Qualification of physical properties affecting gasket production
Conclusions
Findings
Conflict of interest
Full Text
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