TiNbN-Coated Electrode Unit for Corrosion-Resistant Redox Flow Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current redox flow cell electrode units with metallic substrates face challenges due to insufficient corrosion resistance and stability in strongly basic or acidic electrolytes, limiting their use and hindering the development of compact, efficient battery stacks.
Innovation Solution
The use of a metallic substrate coated with a protective layer of titanium-niobium nitride (TiNbN) and/or titanium-niobium carbide (TiNbC), optionally combined with an adhesion promoting layer and a cover layer, which enhances corrosion resistance and electrochemical stability, allowing for a thinner, more compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a metallic substrate is used for electrode units, then the thickness can be reduced and space can be saved, but the corrosion resistance and stability in strongly basic or acidic electrolytes are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a metallic substrate (providing mechanical strength and thin-profile capability) with a corrosion-resistant coating layer (providing chemical stability in electrolytes). This composite structure resolves the contradiction by allowing the metal to provide thickness reduction while the coating provides the necessary corrosion protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrosion-resistant coating acts as an intermediary layer between the metallic substrate and the electrolyte environment. This intermediate layer protects the metal from direct contact with corrosive electrolytes, enabling the use of thin metallic substrates while maintaining long-term stability and corrosion resistance.
2Reliability
If plastic and graphite composite substrates are used, then corrosion resistance is achieved, but the electrode unit thickness increases to 0.7-1.2 mm and additional frames are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a new composite material system where a metallic substrate provides the thin-profile structure and mechanical strength, while a specialized corrosion-resistant coating provides the protective function previously achieved by thicker plastic-graphite composites. This eliminates the need for additional plastic frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential protective function from the thick plastic-graphite composite structure and applies it as a thin coating layer on the metallic substrate. This separation allows the substrate to be thin and flexible while the coating provides concentrated corrosion protection.
3Reliability
If carbon coating is applied to plastic substrates, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the substrate and protective coating into an integrated composite structure where the corrosion-resistant coating is directly applied to the metallic substrate. This combination eliminates the need for separate plastic frames and multiple assembly steps, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining corrosion protection.
Solution Approach 2:
By creating a metalllic substrate with integrated corrosion-resistant coating, the patent simplifies the overall structure compared to assembled plastic-graphite-c Carbon composite units. The composite material approach allows for simpler manufacturing processes and reduced assembly requirements.
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 coated metallic substrate provides improved corrosion resistance and electrochemical stability, enabling a space-saving design for redox flow cells with low interface resistance and high catalytic activity, facilitating the production of compact and efficient redox flow batteries.
Implementation Method 1
the coating comprises at least one protective layer formed from titanium-niobium nitride (TiNbN) and/or titanium-niobium carbide (TiNbC)
Implementation Method 2
at least one metallic substrate and a coating which is applied to the substrate
Implementation Method 3
Redox flow batteries are storage devices for electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy is stored in liquid chemical compounds or electrolytes
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode unit (1, 1a, 1b), in particular for a redox flow cell (8), including at least one metallic substrate (2) and a coating (3) which is applied to the substrate (2), wherein the coating (3) includes at least one protective layer (4) which is formed from titanium-niobium nitride (TiNbN) and/or titanium-niobium carbide (TiNbC). A redox flow cell (8), in particular a redox flow battery, having at least one such electrode unit (1, 1a, 1b) is also provided.