Improving the voltage and lifetime of aqueous redox flow batteries utilizing the organometallic catholyte iron (II/III) Tris-2,2’-Bipyridine

dc.contributor.advisorHolubowitch, Nicolas
dc.contributor.advisorOlson, Mark
dc.contributor.authorBurghoff, Alexis
dc.contributor.committeeMemberPavel, Ioana
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-07T20:01:57Z
dc.date.available2023-08-07T20:01:57Z
dc.date.issued2023-05
dc.descriptionA Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Chemistry Department of Environmental Science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
dc.description.abstractRenewable energy, such as solar and wind, helps move away from the reliance on fossil fuels, which causes the significant issue of atmospheric carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. One of the biggest challenges of renewable energy is the lack of storage options so it can be readily available when it is inaccessible (i.e., when environmental conditions change, and solar and wind energy are not accessible). Of the potential energy storage options, electrochemical storage, specifically battery storage, has become popular because of the potential for long-term storage they provide. Some examples of battery storage include lithium-ion and redox flow. While redox flow batteries (RFBs) are an attractive option for long-term energy storage, a lack of suitable high-potential catholyte species hinders the development. Hydrolysis of the charged (oxidized) form typically occurs when the catholyte’s redox potential approaches that of water, leading to performance degradation. Here we show that hydrolysis of an oxidized (charged) organometallic catholyte, which normally leads to severe voltage losses, can be curtailed through interactions with oxidized carbon surfaces. We discovered that the addition of activated carbon cloth (ACC) to the reservoir of low-cost, high-potential iron (II/III) tris-2,2’-bipyridine ([Fe(bpy)3]2+/3+) catholyte-limited aqueous redox flow batteries extends their lifetime and boosts discharge voltage. A similar effect is observed when the cathode is electrochemically oxidized (overcharged) on the first cycle and by modifying electrolyte pH. Oxidized carbons appear to modify the structure of the charged catholyte’s hydrolysis product, the dimer µ-O-[FeIII(bpy)2(H2O)]24+, and/or change the solution pH, permitting its reduction at a more favorable redox potential than in the ACC-free catholyte. Near-neutral-pH RFBs employing 1,1?-bis(3-sulfonatopropyl)-4,4?- bipyridinium ((SPr)2V) anolyte in excess and the with the [Fe(bpy)3]2+/3+ catholyte containing ACC exhibited high-voltage discharge for 600 cycles (41 days) with no discernable capacity fade. We also demonstrate that a zero-pot, solvent-free synthetic method yields long-lived [Fe(bpy)3]2+/3+-based RFBs when employing the novel voltage-boosting methods.
dc.description.collegeCollege of Science
dc.description.departmentChemistry
dc.format.extent67 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/96908
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rightsThis material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with its source. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the author and/or publisher.
dc.rightsThis material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with its source. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the author and/or publisher.en_US
dc.subjectactivated carbonen_US
dc.subjectcapacity fadeen_US
dc.subjectcatholyteen_US
dc.subjectdimerizationen_US
dc.subjectoverchargeen_US
dc.subjectredox flow batteryen_US
dc.titleImproving the voltage and lifetime of aqueous redox flow batteries utilizing the organometallic catholyte iron (II/III) Tris-2,2’-Bipyridineen_US
dc.typeText
dc.typeTexten_US
dc.type.genreThesis
dc.type.genreThesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEnvironmental Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.grantorTexas A & M University--Corpus Christi
thesis.degree.grantorTexas A & M University--Corpus Christien_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen_US

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