Tin Modified Carbon Nanofibers as an Effective Catalytic Electrode for Bromine Redox Reactions in Static Zinc‐bromine Batteries
Masud Rana, Craig T. Stoppiello, Qiu He, Xiyue Peng, Norah S. Alghamdi, Yongxin Huang, I. Gentle, Bin Luo
Abstract
Abstract Zinc‐bromine batteries (ZBBs) have emerged as a compelling solution for large‐scale energy storage, yet they confront significant technical challenges impeding widespread commercialization. The electrochemical processes within ZBBs rely on a stoichiometric mechanism, where the bromine reaction at the cathode drives the zinc plating reaction on the anode. However, the sluggish electrochemical kinetics of Br 2 /Br − redox reactions lead to substantial electrochemical polarization, resulting in interruptions in zinc plating and significant voltage losses in ZBBs. This study introduces a new solution to address these challenges by leveraging carbon nanofiber decorated with tin nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst. The catalyst serves to enhance the Br 2 /Br – redox reaction, effectively reducing voltage losses in ZBBs. When implemented in static ZBB configurations, the Sn/CNF catalysts demonstrate exceptional long‐term stability, achieving an impressive 3000 cycles with minimal voltage loss. In contrast, ZBBs utilizing SnO 2 based catalysts experience a substantially higher voltage loss of 736 mV, along with limited and unstable cycling performance. These findings signify a promising approach for the development of catalytic electrodes, paving the way for high‐performance ZBBs with improved efficiency and cycling durability.