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Mn 3 O 4 Nanoparticle‐Decorated Carbon Cloths with Superior Catalytic Activity for the V II /V III Redox Reaction in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
Author(s) -
Zeng L.,
Zhao T. S.,
Wei L.,
Zeng Y. K.,
Zhou X. L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201700793
Subject(s) - redox , vanadium , flow battery , nanoparticle , carbon fibers , catalysis , electrode , materials science , inorganic chemistry , electrochemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrolyte , organic chemistry , composite material , composite number
Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticle‐decorated carbon cloths are prepared as the electrodes for vanadium redox flow batteries. The Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles are prepared using a two‐step process, in which MnOOH nanoflakes are electrodeposited on the surface of the carbon cloth and subsequently converted to Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles by a thermal treatment. The prepared electrode exhibits a superior electrocatalytic activity toward the V II /V III redox reaction. It is demonstrated that the peak potential separation of the V II /V III redox reaction on the as‐prepared electrode is reduced from 402.0 mV to 82.4 mV at a scan rate of 5 mV s −1 when the pristine carbon cloth is deposited with Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The flow battery with carbon cloths decorated with 0.31 mg cm −2 of Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles as the electrode exhibits an energy efficiency of 88 %, which is 17 % higher than that of the battery assembled with the pristine carbon cloth at a current density of 100 mA cm −2 . Therefore, the superior electrocatalytic activity of Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles reported offers a promising approach to improve the performance of carbon‐based electrodes, which can reduce the capital cost of vanadium redox flow batteries.