Temperature adaptability of the soluble lead flow battery using different solutions of fluoborate, perchlorate, methanesulfonate and trifluoromethanesulfonate

Abstract The evaluation of cell's weatherability is of practical interest. To further improve the soluble lead flow battery's weatherability, physiochemical properties of electrolytes containing fluoborate, perchlorate, methanesulfonate and trifluoromethanesulfonate are investigated from −60 to 50 °C. Activities of CF3SO3H and HClO4 are poor in trifluoromethanesulfonate and perchlorate solutions due to common anion effect. The solubility of lead salt can be improved by increasing temperature, but worsened by increasing acid's content. With the temperature increasing, the conductivity is enhanced, and the viscosity is lowered for four solutions. The same results have been found by increasing acid's content except for CF3SO3H. The high energy efficiency can be achieved for cells over −40–0 °C using fluoborate and perchlorate solutions, 73.2% at −40 °C and 78.1% at −30 °C respectively. Over the temperature range of 20–50 °C, the cells with methanesulfonate and trifluoromethanesulfonate solutions have good performance, 77.4% and 73.7% at 50 °C respectively.