Quantifying concentration distributions in redox flow batteries with neutron radiography
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s41467-024-50120-7.pdf
Description
Published version
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3.98 MB
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Checksum (MD5)
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Author(s)
Jacquemond, Rémy Richard
van der Heijden, Maxime
Boz, Emre Burak
Carreón Ruiz, Eric Ricardo
Greco, Katharine Virginia
Kowalski, Jeffrey Adam
Muñoz Perales, Vanesa
Brushett, Fikile Richard
Nijmeijer, Kitty
Boillat, Pierre
Date Issued
September 5, 2024
Journal
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Citation
Jacquemond, R.R., van der Heijden, M., Boz, E.B. et al. Quantifying concentration distributions in redox flow batteries with neutron radiography. Nat Commun 15, 7434 (2024).
Version
Final published version
Abstract
The continued advancement of electrochemical technologies requires an increasingly detailed understanding of the microscopic processes that control their performance, inspiring the development of new multi-modal diagnostic techniques. Here, we introduce a neutron imaging approach to enable the quantification of spatial and temporal variations in species concentrations within an operating redox flow cell. Specifically, we leverage the high attenuation of redox-active organic materials (high hydrogen content) and supporting electrolytes (boron-containing) in solution and perform subtractive neutron imaging of active species and supporting electrolyte. To resolve the concentration profiles across the electrodes, we employ an in-plane imaging configuration and correlate the concentration profiles to cell performance with polarization experiments under different operating conditions. Finally, we use time-of-flight neutron imaging to deconvolute concentrations of active species and supporting electrolyte during operation. Using this approach, we evaluate the influence of cell polarity, voltage bias and flow rate on the concentration distribution within the flow cell and correlate these with the macroscopic performance, thus obtaining an unprecedented level of insight into reactive mass transport. Ultimately, this diagnostic technique can be applied to a range of (electro)chemical technologies and may accelerate the development of new materials and reactor designs.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemical Engineering
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50120-7
