Structure and dynamics of aqueous VOSO4 solutions in conventional flow through cell design: a molecular dynamics simulation study†

A theoretical model has been proposed to study the structure and dynamics of aqueous vanadyl sulfate (VOSO₄) solution used in the conventional flow (CF) through cell design operating under varying thermodynamic conditions. Classical molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out for aqueous solutions of vanadyl sulfate (VOSO₄) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) at two different concentrations and temperatures considering the temperature dependent degree of dissociation of sulfuric acid. The MD trajectories are used to study the equilibrium structural, dynamical properties such as viscosity, diffusivity and surface tension of the aqueous solution of vanadyl sulfate (VOSO₄). According to the new model, the cation–cation and cation–anion interaction should be low in order to have a good current density in the conventional flow through cell design and further explains the importance of considering mass transport when designing high energy density redox flow batteries. The model is further validated by calculating the viscosity of each system, individual diffusion coefficient of each ion and by comparing them with the experimental data wherever they are available.