Flow Battery Interfacially Bonded Bipolar Plate-Electrode Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow batteries face sub-optimal energy storage performance due to parasitic reactions and high contact resistance, which lead to inefficiencies and limited cycle life, and existing solutions are costly and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
The use of an electrically conductive adhesive to interfacially bond electrodes to bipolar plates in flow batteries, reducing contact resistance while maintaining fluid communication and minimizing parasitic reactions by creating a density gradient that enhances convective flow and reduces electrode porosity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compressive force is applied between bipolar plate and electrode to reduce contact resistance, then contact resistance decreases, but electrode porosity decreases and mass transfer resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
A compliant layer is introduced as an intermediary between the bipolar plate and electrode. This layer acts as a mediator that maintains continuous electrical contact while accommodating electrode expansion/contraction during cycling, thereby reducing contact resistance without requiring high compressive forces that would compact the electrode pores and hinder mass transfer.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively decreases contact resistance and parasitic reactions, improving the overall efficiency and cycle life of flow batteries by promoting productive reactions and minimizing mass transfer resistance.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conductive adhesive interfacially bonds at least one of the first electrode to the first bipolar plate and the second electrode to the second bipolar plate
Implementation Method 2
interfacially bonds at least one of the first electrode to the first bipolar plate and the second electrode to the second bipolar plate
Implementation Method 3
creating a density gradient that enhances convective flow
Implementation Method 4
minimizing parasitic reactions by creating a density gradient that enhances convective flow and reduces electrode porosity
Data Source
AI summary
Electrochemical cells, such as those present within flow batteries, can have an electrode and a bipolar plate in at least one half-cell interfacially bonded together with an electrically conductive adhesive. Bonding the bipolar plate to the electrode can decrease contact resistance and sometimes lessen the incidence of parasitic reactions in the electrochemical cell. Flow batteries containing these features can include: a first half-cell containing a first electrode in interfacial contact with a first bipolar plate, a second half-cell containing a second electrode in interfacial contact with a second bipolar plate, and a separator disposed between the first half-cell and the second half-cell. An electrically conductive adhesive interfacially bonds at least one of the first electrode to the first bipolar plate and the second electrode to the second bipolar plate. Each electrode maintains fluid communication with its corresponding bipolar plate.