Doped Carbon Electrodes for Zinc-Halogen Batteries

摘要

The research project aimed at improving the life of conductive, carbon plastic electrode materials used in advanced, flowing electrolyte zinc-halogen battery systems. It was specifically directed at reducing the bromine-induced structural deformation or warpage which occurs in the bipolar plastic-bonded carbon electrode due to the volume changes which result from significant bromine absorption into the carbon-based bipolar plate. The basic approach involved the use of boron as a dopant which is substitutionally introduced into the carbon lattice. Such boron doping lowers the Fermi level of the carbon and was anticipated to inhibit bromine absorption, and, therefore, warpage. Research results indicate that boron doping of high surface carbons does lead to measurable decreases (up to 44%) in bromine absorption.