The VRFB performance is commonly enhanced by thermally treating the battery’s electrodes before their assembly. Responsible for the enhancement, however, were not oxygen functionalities as widely perceived, but carbon edge planes forming upon surface corrosion. In addition, this work gives a long-sought explanation for the anode kinetics degradation during battery operation. Accordingly, V²⁺ adsorbs on the anode surface and inhibits the V²⁺/V³⁺ reaction. Thereby, the adsorption is reversible, which is why the original battery performance can be recovered.     «

The VRFB performance is commonly enhanced by thermally treating the battery’s electrodes before their assembly. Responsible for the enhancement, however, were not oxygen functionalities as widely perceived, but carbon edge planes forming upon surface corrosion. In addition, this work gives a long-sought explanation for the anode kinetics degradation during battery operation. Accordingly, V²⁺ adsorbs on the anode surface and inhibits the V²⁺/V³⁺ reaction. Thereby, the adsorption is reversible, wh...     »