Poly(p-phenylene)-based membrane materials with excellent cell efficiencies and durability for use in vanadium redox flow batteries?

Journal of Materials Chemistry A Pub Date: 2017-05-15 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA03131A

Abstract

Poly(p-phenylene)-based ionomers with remarkable durability and rate capability for use in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are reported. The family of synthesized ionomers, sPBPSP-z, exhibited not only well-developed phase separation between hydrophilic domains and hydrophobic domains but also well-connected hydrophilic channels, resulting in enhanced proton conductivities and excellent dimensional stabilities. sPBPSP-8, which has an ion exchange capacity of 1.83 meq g?1, showed high discharge capacity retention and superior efficiencies over 100 cycles at a current density of 50 mA cm?2. In addition, the sPBPSP-8 ionomer exhibited stable performance at various current densities (50–180 mA cm?2) and retained high efficiencies at high current densities. Furthermore, this material exhibited superior chemical stability under oxidizing conditions, excellent capacity retention, and high efficiencies during long-term VRFB operation (1000 cycles). These results indicate that the sPBPSP-8 membrane is a superb material for VRFB applications.

Graphical abstract: Poly(p-phenylene)-based membrane materials with excellent cell efficiencies and durability for use in vanadium redox flow batteries
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