2026-09-20T02:19:44Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/1018642026-06-17T14:47:41Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131022
W. Craig Carter, Yet-Ming Chiang, and John B. Vander Sande.
Ho, Bryan Y
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering
2016-03-25T13:41:23Z
2016-03-25T13:41:23Z
2011
2012
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101864
944029209
Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, February 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references.
A novel electrochemical energy storage device, the semi-solid flow cell (SSFC), has recently been demonstrated. The device features a complex fluid composite as its anode and cathode. Both electrodes incorporate particles of a lithium storage compound suspended in a carbon black electrolyte gel. This design of a mixed conductor gel host and electrochemically active filler allows for fluid electrodes to be pumped, from storage tanks, through reaction cells. The de-coupling of energy and power capacity in a high energy density device opens up new opportunities for low cost, high performance energy storage. This thesis explores the microstructure of these fluid composites and establishes links to macroscopic properties that determine the device's energy and power density, efficiency, and cycle life. The rapid agglomeration of colloidal carbon black aggregates leads to gelation by diffusion limited cluster aggregation. The low density, percolating network of carbon provides conduction paths for both ions and electrons. The gel's yield stress stably suspends density mismatched particles of lithium storage compounds, which can readily access the electrochemical reactants via the gel matrix. Application of shear reversibly destroys the gel network, allowing for flow. Flow-induced heterogeneities are also investigated and methods of maintaining macroscopic homogeneity are presented.
by Bryan Y. Ho.
Ph.D.
184 pages
eng
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
Materials Science and Engineering.
An experimental study on the structure-property relationship of composite fluid electrodes for use in high energy density semi-solid flow cells
Thesis
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