ELECTRODE SUSPENSION FOR AQUEOUS SODIUM FLOW BATTERY

Abstract

In the current study, we attempt to formulate and characterize aqueous electrode suspensions (anolytes) composed of carbon black (KB) and sodium titanate (Na2Ti3O7; NTO) dispersed in branched micelle solution. The suspensions were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, rheology, and simultaneous rheo-impedance spectroscopy. The branched micelle solution showed peculiar microstructure with wide working potential of 2.59 V enabled it to be an excellent dispersing medium for conductive KB. Due to excellent wettability, KB dispersions were electrically percolated at low KB content (0.9 wt%) forming a three-dimensional conductive network with significant flexibility enabled them to retain the electrical conductivity under flow. At 1.5 wt% KB, the anolytes could tolerate high load (25 wt%) of NTO without severe rise in the rigidity and conductivity under static and flow modes. Whilst those formulated in the saturated KB dispersions manifested a serious decrease in the conductivity at high load of NTO nanorods.