Exploration of aqueous zinc-hydrogen peroxide batteries

Abstract

SUMMARY In zinc–hydrogen peroxide batteries, an active metal − zinc piece is used as the anode and ammonium chloride is used as the electrolyte in the anode zone. A soluble oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, is used as the active cathode substance, and sulfuric acid as an electrolyte in the cathode zone. Carbon felt, the sum of two apparent areas of which is 24 cm2, is used as an inert cathode with a PE‐01 homogeneous membrane between the anode and cathode zones and 50 mL of solution in both the anode and cathode zones. The discharge characteristics of the batteries at 5 Ω were investigated for various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid and ammonium chloride solutions. When a 5‐M ammonium chloride solution was used in the anode zone with a 3.2‐M sulfuric acid and 3.52‐M hydrogen peroxide mixed solution in the cathode zone, an average discharge current of 190 mA, an average output voltage of approximately 0.95 V and an actual gravimetric energy density of 42.73 W h kg−1 were obtained, and the discharge time of the batteries was more than 30 h. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A possible future fuel cell: the peroxide/peroxide fuel cell

“…An even more desirable outcome would be if the by‐products could be removed, recycled or converted to safer materials. H 2 O 2 is non‐toxic, does not bioaccumulate and does not deplete finite resources . We believe that ‘low‐concentration basic peroxide’ should therefore be called a ‘green fuel’.…”

Beyond metal–air battery, emerging aqueous metal–hydrogen peroxide batteries with improved performance

“…In the earlier reports, a Zn-H 2 O 2 battery was proposed with a metal Zn slice as the anode, NH 4 Cl solution as anolyte, and H 2 SO 4 −H 2 O 2 as catholyte. 77 The discharge characteristics of the batteries were investigated for various concentrations of H 2 O 2 , H 2 SO 4 , and NH 4 Cl solutions. An actual gravimetric energy density of 42.73 Wh kg −1 was achieved at an average discharge current of 190 mA (~7.9 mA cm −2 ) and an average output voltage of ~0.95 V. Also, the discharging performance of the Zn-H 2 O 2 battery was more than 30 h. However, the cell with the Zn/NH 4 Cl/PE-01/catalyst/H 2 SO 4 −H 2 O 2 structure was still a dual-electrolyte system with lowpower density.…”

“…In the earlier reports, a Zn–H 2 O 2 battery was proposed with a metal Zn slice as the anode, NH 4 Cl solution as anolyte, and H 2 SO 4 −H 2 O 2 as catholyte 77 . The discharge characteristics of the batteries were investigated for various concentrations of H 2 O 2 , H 2 SO 4 , and NH 4 Cl solutions.…”

Novel Aqueous Zinc–Halogenate Flow Batteries as an Offspring of Zinc–Air Fuel Cells for Use in Oxygen‐Deficient Environment

“…Some other oxidants dissolved in liquid electrolytes ‐ ferricynide, [ 17 ] permanganate, [ 18 ] or in solid state – sulfur, [ 19 ] NiOOH [ 20 ] were tried in batteries with aluminum anode. Zinc/H 2 O 2 , [ 21,22 ] Zn‐bichromate battery, [ 23 ] and Zn‐persulfate battery [ 24 ] systems were studied also. Zn–I 2 aqueous redox battery based on reversible I − /I 2 /I + conversion and electrochemical Zn dissolution/deposition was proposed in the study by Zou et al [ 25 ]…”