Cerium-based redox flow batteries (RFBs) such as Zn-Ce and V-Ce have received attention as attractive energy storage systems due to their high opencircuit cell voltages. To date, the most successful Ce-based RFBs have relied on expensive Pt-based positive electrodes. In this study, the use of more economical polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based graphite felt (GF) containing tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) and/or tin oxide (SnO 2 ) nanocatalysts is examined for its electrochemical activity for the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) redox reaction in a series of half-cell experiments. Cyclic voltammetry is carried out at room temperature in a 0.05 M Ce(III) methanesulfonate +1.0 M methanesulfonic acid (MSA) electrolyte using a custom-made three-electrode cell. Among all modified GFs, those coated with a binary WO 3 -SnO 2 mixture have exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity toward the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) reaction compared to the ones decorated with single oxides WO 3 or SnO 2 . Presumably, this can be ascribed to the involvement of both metal oxides (WO 3 and SnO 2 ) in promoting electrolyte accessibility and improving the hydrophilicity of GF electrodes. SEM images indicate that the combination of WO 3 and SnO 2 promotes a more homogeneous dispersion over the graphite fiber surface and prevents clustering of the oxide particles that is more evident in the case of the single metal oxide catalysts.
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