Performance of a Thermally Regenerative Battery with 3D-Printed Cu/C Composite Electrodes: Effect of Electrode Pore Size

Abstract

A thermally regenerative ammonia-based battery (TRAB) is a new electrochemical energy device used for the recovery of low-grade waste heat. The use of a three-dimensional (3D)-printed Cu/C composite electrode was proposed to promote electrode stability and to solve the high mass transfer resistance inside the porous electrode. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) tests indicated the successful copper electroplating on the surface of 3D-based porous carbon. The performance of TRAB using Cu/C electrodes (TRAB-Cu/C) was compared with that of TRAB with copper foam electrodes (TRAB-Cu), and the effects of electrode pore size were investigated. Results showed that the maximum power density of TRAB-Cu/C was 42.3 ± 2.4 W m −2 , which was 5.8% higher than that of TRAB-Cu (40 ± 1.6 W m −2 ). The pore size of the Cu/C composite electrode significantly influenced the electrode specific surface area and mass transfer inside the porous electrode. The highest maximum power density (42.3 W m −2 ) was obtained in a TRAB-Cu/C with a pore size of 0.6 mm.

The impact of fiber arrangement and advective transport in porous electrodes for silver-based thermally regenerated batteries

“…This created an in-line electrode with a variable void fraction (termed VV) that had an average void fraction of 85%. Though unconventional, this electrode structure could be manufactured using recent advances in additive manufacturing [14,48]. The VV electrode had power output similar to that of the in-line arrangement with 80% void fraction (Figure 8b) but with plugging times that were closer to that of the in-line arrangement with 85% void fraction (Figure 8c).…”

3D Printing Enables Customizable Batteries

“…It can be precisely adjusted by the printing periods. [46] Zhang et al [47] prepared a porous Cu/C electrode with a series of customizable pore sizes (0.5-0.9 mm) by stereolithography. A decreased pore size in 3D-printed electrodes leaded to an increased active electrode surface area but an increased mass transfer resistance.…”

“…It can be precisely adjusted by the printing periods [46] . Zhang et al [47] . prepared a porous Cu/C electrode with a series of customizable pore sizes (0.5–0.9 mm) by stereolithography.…”

Reduced-Graphene-Oxide-Modified Nickel Foam as Anode Electrode for Increased Performance of a Non-aqueous Thermally Regenerative Flow Battery

“…In that way, the multiple batches of electricity production were realized using low-grade waste heat. To improve the maximum power density and stability, new reactors, composite porous electrodes, and different reaction systems were studied in subsequent papers [13][14][15]. To enhance mass transfer in the batteries, a flow TRB [16] and a fluidized-bed reactor [17] were developed, which improved the electricity generation performance of TRB.…”