Why ferrocyanide flow batteries can't go symmetric: cyanide release and degradation
Why are there no flow batteries with symmetric ferrocyanide electrolytes?
Ferrocyanide/ferricyanide is a popular redox couple for flow batteries due to its stability, kinetics, and solubility. Yet no symmetric flow battery using ferrocyanide in both electrolytes exists. The author explains that ferrocyanide decomposes at reducing potentials below -0.5V, releasing free cyanide and forming Prussian blue, which destroys the battery. Coupling with higher-potential catholytes also fails due to anodic oxidation. This instability precludes economically viable symmetric designs and poses safety hazards.
Subjecting it to electrochemical abuse WILL generate free cyanide and it’s likely to pose a significant danger to you and others.
- ambicapter
Glad I finally have a name (flow battery) for a concept that I've been wanting to be made for a long time (liquid batteries).
- mshafir
Thank you for this, as somebody with almost no background in chemistry, I can now appreciate just a bit more the complexity that goes into battery development. Where does one learn about this?
- stuaxo
Cyanide batteries... hmm..