Development of nitrogen-doped carbons using the hydrothermal method as electrode materials for vanadium redox flow batteries

作者：Lee Hokyun; Kim Hansung^*

来源：Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2013, 43(5): 553-557.

DOI：10.1007/s10800-013-0539-0

• Vanadium redox flow battery
• Nitrogen-doped carbon
• Nitrogen functional group
• Pyridinic nitrogen
• Hydrothermal reaction
• Ethylenediamine

Nitrogen-doped carbons are suggested as electrochemically active materials for V(IV)/V(V) redox couples for a vanadium redox flow battery (VRB). These materials were synthesized using a hydrothermal reaction of aqueous glucose solution in the presence of ethylenediamine as a nitrogen source. The physical and electrochemical properties of the nitrogen-doped carbons are characterized by cyclic voltammetry, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. These results reveal that the hydrothermal method is an effective way to synthesize high-content nitrogen-doped carbons. Nitrogen doping significantly improves catalytic activity and reversibility. Therefore, use of nitrogen-doped carbon is expected to increase the energy storage efficiency of VRBs.

• 出版日期2013-5