Iron Negative Electrode Additives for Hydrogen Suppression

Solution Overview

Problem

Current energy storage technologies are limited in their ability to provide long and ultralong duration energy storage, with a need for low-cost rechargeable battery chemistries that can support timescales greater than 8 hours.

Innovation Solution

An electrochemical cell is developed with an iron-containing active material and an additive that inhibits hydrogen evolution, with the additive dispersed in the electrolyte or supported on the anode, and in a concentration greater than 10 and less than 10,000 atoms of additive per million atoms of iron.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If conventional energy storage technologies are used, then current energy storage needs are met, but long and ultralong duration energy storage (>8 h) cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage durationVSAvoidself-discharge rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A non-ferrous metal additive (such as indium, lead, or their compounds) is introduced as an intermediary substance in the electrolyte or anode to inhibit hydrogen evolution reactions. This additive acts as a mediator that reduces self-discharge during long-duration storage, enabling energy storage durations greater than 8 hours while maintaining system reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The concentration of the non-ferrous metal additive is precisely controlled within a specific range (greater than 10 and less than 10,000 atoms per million atoms of iron). By optimizing this parameter, the system achieves both long-duration energy storage capability and low self-discharge rate, resolving the contradiction between extended duration and maintained reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If iron negative electrode is used for low-cost energy storage, then cost is reduced, but hydrogen evolution and self-discharge increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidhydrogen evolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A non-ferrous metal additive (such as indium, lead, or their compounds) is introduced as an intermediary substance in the electrolyte or anode to inhibit hydrogen evolution reactions. This additive acts as a mediator that reduces self-discharge during long-duration storage, enabling energy storage durations greater than 8 hours while maintaining system reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The concentration of the non-ferrous metal additive is precisely controlled within a specific range (greater than 10 and less than 10,000 atoms per million atoms of iron). By optimizing this parameter, the system achieves both long-duration energy storage capability and low self-discharge rate, resolving the contradiction between extended duration and maintained reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution reduces the rate of self-discharge of the electrochemical cell by at least 10 percent and maintains a mean percentage capacity loss per day of greater than zero and less than 4 percent, while also reducing hydrogen evolution.

Implementation Method 1

an additive reactive to inhibit hydrogen evolution in a charge state and in a resting state of the electrochemical cell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogen evolution inhibition: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentUS20250132320A1Low concentration additives for iron negative electrodes

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 FORM ENERGY INC

AI summary

According to an aspect, an electrochemical cell may include an electrolyte and an anode in the electrolyte, the anode including an iron-containing active material, at least one of the anode and the electrolyte including an additive reactive to inhibit hydrogen evolution in a charge state and in a resting state of the electrochemical cell, and the additive in a concentration greater than about 10 and less than about 10,000 atoms of additive per million atoms iron of the iron-containing active material.