Functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for Br- / Br3- redox reactions in vanadium bromide redox flow batteries

Xianhong Rui, Aishwarya Parasuraman, Weiling Liu, Dao Hao Sim, Huey Hoon Hng, Qingyu Yan, Tuti Mariana Lim*, Maria Skyllas-Kazacos

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pristine graphite, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), singe-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and functionalized SWCNTs with large numbers of oxygen-containing groups (FSWCNTs) have been used as electrocatalysts for the Br-/Br3- redox couple reactions in the positive half-cell of the vanadium bromide redox battery. The structure, composition, and electrochemical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrochemical activity of the FSWCNTs-modified electrodes for the Br -/Br3- redox couple reactions is greatly increased relative to graphite and other carbon nanotube-modified electrodes and the electrochemical kinetics of the redox reactions are in the order of FSWCNTs > SWCNTs > MWCNTs > graphite. This result suggests that the oxygen functional groups significantly facilitate the electron transfer processes, by providing active sites for the reactions and enhancing the effective electrode area.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)464-471
Number of pages8
JournalCarbon
Volume64
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science

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