Broadening Applicability of the Poor Academic's Method for Reversing Polarity in Redox Flow Cell Cycling

Abstract The use of symmetrical cells is becoming popular for the search of new electroactive materials in redox flow batteries. Unfortunately, low‐cost battery cyclers, commonly used for electrochemical battery testing, are not compatible with symmetrical cells since they usually cannot apply negat...

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Main Authors: Gimena Marin‐Tajadura, Dr. Eduardo Sánchez‐Díez, Dr. Virginia Ruiz, Dr. Edgar Ventosa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2024-01-01
Series:ChemElectroChem
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202300525
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author Gimena Marin‐Tajadura
Dr. Eduardo Sánchez‐Díez
Dr. Virginia Ruiz
Dr. Edgar Ventosa
author_facet Gimena Marin‐Tajadura
Dr. Eduardo Sánchez‐Díez
Dr. Virginia Ruiz
Dr. Edgar Ventosa
author_sort Gimena Marin‐Tajadura
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The use of symmetrical cells is becoming popular for the search of new electroactive materials in redox flow batteries. Unfortunately, low‐cost battery cyclers, commonly used for electrochemical battery testing, are not compatible with symmetrical cells since they usually cannot apply negative bias voltages needed for symmetrical cells. The insertion of a Ni−Cd battery in the voltage sensing path is a simple and effective methodology to overcome this limitation for certain battery cyclers. Herein, the validity of this useful method is evaluated for other battery cyclers, realizing that the strategy is not universal. A modified methodology is developed for a battery cycler in which the previous method is not valid. The new strategy is based on inserting a Ni‐MH battery in the current path, and enables using a low‐cost Neware CT‐4008T‐5V6A‐S1 cycler for ferro‐ /ferricyanide symmetrical cells demonstrating proper operation for >19 days. This new method possesses advantages, e. g. direct reading of the cell voltage, and disadvantages, e. g. the Ni‐MH battery is charged/discharged during operation, which are discussed. The four battery cyclers evaluated show that, despite neither method is universal, both methods are complementary to each other. Thus, the decision of using either one method or the other must be reached on a case‐by‐case basis.
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spelling doaj.art-7216bca7dae1471281d4423104e9f82b2024-01-16T09:14:43ZengWiley-VCHChemElectroChem2196-02162024-01-01112n/an/a10.1002/celc.202300525Broadening Applicability of the Poor Academic's Method for Reversing Polarity in Redox Flow Cell CyclingGimena Marin‐Tajadura0Dr. Eduardo Sánchez‐Díez1Dr. Virginia Ruiz2Dr. Edgar Ventosa3International Research Center in Critical Raw Materials-ICCRAM Universidad de Burgos Plaza Misael Bañuelos s/n E-09001 Burgos SpainCIC Energigune Albert Einstein, 48 E-01510 Vitoria-Gasteiz SpainInternational Research Center in Critical Raw Materials-ICCRAM Universidad de Burgos Plaza Misael Bañuelos s/n E-09001 Burgos SpainInternational Research Center in Critical Raw Materials-ICCRAM Universidad de Burgos Plaza Misael Bañuelos s/n E-09001 Burgos SpainAbstract The use of symmetrical cells is becoming popular for the search of new electroactive materials in redox flow batteries. Unfortunately, low‐cost battery cyclers, commonly used for electrochemical battery testing, are not compatible with symmetrical cells since they usually cannot apply negative bias voltages needed for symmetrical cells. The insertion of a Ni−Cd battery in the voltage sensing path is a simple and effective methodology to overcome this limitation for certain battery cyclers. Herein, the validity of this useful method is evaluated for other battery cyclers, realizing that the strategy is not universal. A modified methodology is developed for a battery cycler in which the previous method is not valid. The new strategy is based on inserting a Ni‐MH battery in the current path, and enables using a low‐cost Neware CT‐4008T‐5V6A‐S1 cycler for ferro‐ /ferricyanide symmetrical cells demonstrating proper operation for >19 days. This new method possesses advantages, e. g. direct reading of the cell voltage, and disadvantages, e. g. the Ni‐MH battery is charged/discharged during operation, which are discussed. The four battery cyclers evaluated show that, despite neither method is universal, both methods are complementary to each other. Thus, the decision of using either one method or the other must be reached on a case‐by‐case basis.https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202300525Battery cyclerelectrochemistryredox flow batteryreversing polaritysymmetrical cell
spellingShingle Gimena Marin‐Tajadura
Dr. Eduardo Sánchez‐Díez
Dr. Virginia Ruiz
Dr. Edgar Ventosa
Broadening Applicability of the Poor Academic's Method for Reversing Polarity in Redox Flow Cell Cycling
ChemElectroChem
Battery cycler
electrochemistry
redox flow battery
reversing polarity
symmetrical cell
title Broadening Applicability of the Poor Academic's Method for Reversing Polarity in Redox Flow Cell Cycling
title_full Broadening Applicability of the Poor Academic's Method for Reversing Polarity in Redox Flow Cell Cycling
title_fullStr Broadening Applicability of the Poor Academic's Method for Reversing Polarity in Redox Flow Cell Cycling
title_full_unstemmed Broadening Applicability of the Poor Academic's Method for Reversing Polarity in Redox Flow Cell Cycling
title_short Broadening Applicability of the Poor Academic's Method for Reversing Polarity in Redox Flow Cell Cycling
title_sort broadening applicability of the poor academic s method for reversing polarity in redox flow cell cycling
topic Battery cycler
electrochemistry
redox flow battery
reversing polarity
symmetrical cell
url https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202300525
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AT dreduardosanchezdiez broadeningapplicabilityofthepooracademicsmethodforreversingpolarityinredoxflowcellcycling
AT drvirginiaruiz broadeningapplicabilityofthepooracademicsmethodforreversingpolarityinredoxflowcellcycling
AT dredgarventosa broadeningapplicabilityofthepooracademicsmethodforreversingpolarityinredoxflowcellcycling