Name: fabrication of vb2/air cells for electrochemical testing
Uploaded: 2013-08-05T01:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Fabrication of VB2/Air Cells for Electrochemical Testing at JoVE.com

The authors would like to acknowledge the National Science Foundation Award 1006568 for funding this project.

1. Preparation Nano-VB2
Nanoscopic VB2 is directly synthesized from elemental vanadium and boron via ball-milling in a 1:2 mole ration.
<ol>
	<li>Clean a 50 ml tungsten carbide milling jar and ten 10-mm tungsten carbide balls. Dry under air in an oven at 100 &deg;C for 1 hr to ensure all water has evaporated.</li>
	<li>Wipe clean the inside of the milling jar to ensure no residue remains, repeat step 1.1 if residue is visible.</li>
	<li>Purge the antechamber of a glove ...

<ol>
	<li>Linden, D., Reddy, T. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Handbook of Batteries. , (2010).</li><li>Rogulski, Z., Czerwin'ski, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cathode+Modification+in+the+Leclanche'+Cell.">Cathode Modification in the Leclanche' Cell.</a> Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry. 7, 118-121 (2003).</li><li>Neburchilov, V., Wang, H., Martin, J. J., Qu, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+review+on+air+cathodes+for+zinc+-+air+fuel+cells.">A review on air cathodes for zinc - air fuel cells.</a> Journal of Power Sources. 195, 1271-1291 (2010).</li><li>Yu, X., Licht, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+capacity+alkaline+super-iron+boride+battery.">High capacity alkaline super-iron boride battery.</a> Electrochimica Acta. 52, 8138-8143 (2007).</li><li>Licht, S., Wang, B., Ghosh, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Energetic+Iron(VI)+Chemistry:+The+Super-Iron+Battery.">Energetic Iron(VI) Chemistry: The Super-Iron Battery.</a> Science. 285, 1039-1042 (1990).</li><li>Licht, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+aluminum+batteries:+a+step+towards+derivation+of+superbatteries.">Novel aluminum batteries: a step towards derivation of superbatteries.</a> Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. , 134-241 (1998).</li><li>Licht, S., Myung, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorinated+Graphites+as+Energetic+Cathodes+for+Nonaqueous+Al+Batteries.">Fluorinated Graphites as Energetic Cathodes for Nonaqueous Al Batteries.</a> Electrochem. Solid-State Lett. 5, A160-A163 (2002).</li><li>Licht, S., Ghosh, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+power+BaFe(VI)O4/MnO2+composite+cathode+alkaline+super-iron+batteries.">High power BaFe(VI)O4/MnO2 composite cathode alkaline super-iron batteries.</a> Journal of Power Sources. 109, 465-468 (2002).</li><li>Licht, S., Myung, N., Peramunage, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ultrahigh+Specific+Power+Electrochemistry,+Exemplified+by+Al/MnO4-+and+Cd/AgO+Redox+Chemistry.">Ultrahigh Specific Power Electrochemistry, Exemplified by Al/MnO4- and Cd/AgO Redox Chemistry.</a> The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 102, 6780-6786 (1998).</li><li>Licht, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Aluminum/Sulfur+Battery+Discharge+in+the+High+Current+Domain.">Aluminum/Sulfur Battery Discharge in the High Current Domain.</a> J. Electrochem. Soc. 144, L133-L136 (1997).</li><li>Gao, X. -. P., Yang, H. -. X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multi-electron+materials+for+high+energy+density+batteries.">Multi-electron materials for high energy density batteries.</a> Energy and Environmental Science. 3, 174-189 (2010).</li><li>Yang, H. X., Wang, Y. D., Ai, X. P., Cha, C. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Metal+Borides:+Competitive+High+Capacity+Anode+Materials+for+Aqueous+Primary+Batteries.">Metal Borides: Competitive High Capacity Anode Materials for Aqueous Primary Batteries.</a> Electrochemical and Solid-State. 7, A212-A215 (2004).</li><li>Licht, S., Yu, X., Qu, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+Alkaline+Redox+Couple:+Chemistry+of+the+Fe6+/B2-+Super-iron+Boride+Battery.">Novel Alkaline Redox Couple: Chemistry of the Fe6+/B2- Super-iron Boride Battery.</a> Chemical Communications. 2007, 2753-2755 (2007).</li><li>Licht, S., Wu, H., Yu, X., Wang, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Renewable+Highest+Capacity+VB2/Air+Energy+Storage.">Renewable Highest Capacity VB2/Air Energy Storage.</a> Chemical Communications. 2008, 3257-3259 (2008).</li><li>Light, S., Ghosh, S., Wang, B., Jiang, D., Asercion, J., Bergmann, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nanoparticle+Facilitated+Charge+Transfer+and+Voltage+of+a+High+Capacity+VB2+Anode.">Nanoparticle Facilitated Charge Transfer and Voltage of a High Capacity VB2 Anode.</a> Electrochemical and Solid-State. 14, 83-85 (2011).</li><li>Licht, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nano-VB2+Synthesis+from+Elemental+Vanadium+and+Boron:+Nano-VB2+Anode/Air+Batteries.">Nano-VB2 Synthesis from Elemental Vanadium and Boron: Nano-VB2 Anode/Air Batteries.</a> Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters. 15, A12-A14 (2012).</li></ol>

Construction of the VB2/air battery in this way provides the ability to study and probe the eleven electrons per molecule charge transfer that occurs, allowing the possibility for a new high capacity battery. If obtained results do not demonstrate reproducible results, ensure that all of the zinc anode material was removed from the battery, that there is an even dispersion of active material on the cap, and that the cells are properly glued without any leaks. If a problem continues to occur, ensure that the ba...

Vanadium diboride as an anode has among the highest volumetric charge capacity of any anode material. This protocol introduces a method for studying this fascinating material. Metallic zinc has been the predominant anode material in aqueous primary systems due to zinc metal's high two-electron volumetric and gravimetric charge storage capacities of 5.8 kAh L-1 and 820 Ah kg-1, respectively.* The zinc-carbon battery, known as the Leclanch&eacute; cell, was first introduced in the 19th century, combining a zinc anode with a manganese dioxide (carbon current collector) cathode in a chloride electrolyte1. The common alkaline battery utilizes the same couple, but replaces the chloride electrolyte with an aqueous alkali hydroxide electrolyte. Together zinc-carbon and alkaline batteries comprise the majority of primary batteries sold 1. When the manganese dioxide cathode in the alkaline cell is replaced by an air cathode, substantially higher energy storage capacities are achieved. This zinc-air battery utilizes oxygen from the air, and is commonly found in hearing-aid batteries 1-3.
Our search for higher capacity battery storage has focused on materials that can transfer multiple electrons per molecule 4-11. Among the wide variety of redox couples we have explored, VB2 stands out as an extraordinary alkaline anode capable of releasing 11 electrons per VB2, with volumetric and gravimetric capacities of 20.7 kAh L-1 and 4060 Ah kg-1 respectively.* In 2004, Yang and co-workers reported the discharge of VB2, but also documented the extended domain in which VB2 is susceptible to corrosion in alkali media 12. In 2007, we reported that a coating on the VB2 particles prevents this corrosion13, leading to demonstration of the VB2/air battery in 2008 14.
In this paper, we present a protocol used to investigate new metal/air systems employing the technology previously developed for the zinc/air cell as applied to the VB2/air cell. A nanoscopicVB2 anode is presented as a high-energy high-power density anode capable of exhibiting an eleven-electron oxidation reaction approaching the theoretical intrinsic capacity of 4060 Ah kg-1 at increased battery voltage and battery load capability. The VB2/air couple uses an alkaline electrolyte of KOH/NaOH, employing the same oxygen air cathode extracted from the zinc/air cell 1. The carbon electrocatalyst cathode is not consumed during discharge.
There exists a need for a greater understanding the VB2 /air system in order to further improve cell performance. The properties and performance of nanoscopic VB2 materials can be explored using the cell configuration of the zinc/air cell 15,16. Electrochemical testing can be performed for nanoscopic VB2 to compare performance through percent efficiency at various rates.

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>MATERIALS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Boron</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>11337</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Diethyl Ether</td>
			<td>J.T. Baker</td>
			<td>9244-06</td>
			<td>4L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Epoxy</td>
			<td>Loctite</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>Heavy Duty 5 min setting time</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isopropyl Alcohol</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Panasonic 675 Zinc/Air cell</td>
			<td>Panasonic</td>
			<td>PR675H</td>
			<td>Made in Japan (not German)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>C-NERGY Super C65</td>
			<td>Timcal</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>Graphitic carbon black</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vanadium</td>
			<td>Aldrich</td>
			<td>262935</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vanadium Diboride</td>
			<td>American Elements</td>
			<td>12007-37-3</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zirconium Chloride</td>
			<td>Spectrum</td>
			<td>Z20001</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>EQUIPTMENT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50-mL round bottom flask</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific Co LLC</td>
			<td>CG151001</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Diagonal cutting pliers</td>
			<td>Hardware store</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hot/stir plate</td>
			<td>IKA</td>
			<td>C-MAG HS 7</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glove box</td>
			<td>Labconco</td>
			<td>Precision Basic</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ten 10-mm tungsten carbide balls</td>
			<td>Lab Synergy</td>
			<td>55.0100.08</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tungsten carbide milling jar</td>
			<td>Lab Synergy</td>
			<td>50.8600.00</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Razor blade</td>
			<td>Hardware store</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Retsch PM 100 planetary ball mill</td>
			<td>Retsch</td>
			<td>205400003</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stir bar</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>58947-140</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

fabrication of vb2/air cells for electrochemical testing

A technique to investigate the properties and performance of new multi-electron metal/air battery systems is proposed and presented. A method for synthesizing nanoscopic VB2 is presented as well as step-by-step procedure for applying a zirconium oxide coating to the VB2 particles for stabilization upon discharge. The process for disassembling existing zinc/air cells is shown, in addition construction of the new working electrode to replace the conventional zinc/air cell anode with a the nanoscopic VB2 anode. Finally, discharge of the completed VB2/air battery is reported. We show that using the zinc/air cell as a test bed is useful to provide a consistent configuration to study the performance of the high-energy high capacity nanoscopic VB2 anode.

Electrochemical testing is performed to determine the performance of VB2/air batteries. The results obtained for multiple cells provide evidence for reproducibility of the cell performance. Figure 1 compares the VB2/air batteries during a 3,000 ohm (left) and 1,000 ohm (right) discharge. Note that the discharge voltage, as well as the fraction of the 4,060 Ah kg-1 intrinsic capacity is higher with the nanoscopic VB2 anode compared to the macroscopic VB2</s...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Fabrication of VB2/Air Cells for Electrochemical Testing at JoVE.com

Fabrication of VB2/Air Cells for Electrochemical Testing

A protocol is presented to study multi-electron metal/air battery systems by using previous technology developed for the zinc/air cell. Electrochemical testing is then performed on fabricated batteries to evaluate performance.

Fabrication of VB2/Air Cells for Electrochemical Testing

A technique to investigate the properties and performance of new multi-electron metal/air battery systems is proposed and presented. A method for ...

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