Electrochemical flow devices and methods of making the same

An electrochemical device comprising:

• a tube comprising:
• a set of first hollow fibers, each hollow fiber having a submillimeter outside diameter and positioned in an interior volume of the tube, each of the first hollow fibers comprising:
• a first membrane defining an interior volume of the first hollow fiber;
• a set of first solid electrodes positioned in the interior volume of the first hollow fiber;
• and
• at least a first portion of a first electrolyte fluid positioned in the interior volume of the first hollow fiber;
• a set of second solid electrodes positioned in the interior volume of the tube and outside of the interior volume of each of the first hollow fibers;
• and
• a second electrolyte fluid suffusing the interior volume of the tube;
• wherein, with the interior volume of each of the first hollow fibers without direct contact with the second electrolyte fluid via the first membranes, and with a sealing of interior volume of the tube to contain the second electrolyte fluid, there is no mixing of the first electrolyte fluid and the second electrolyte fluid in the electrochemical device;
• wherein the first membrane of the first hollow fiber comprises a copolymer selected from the group consisting of sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene monomer, perfluorinated monomer, perfluorosulfonic acid monomer, perfluorovinyl ether monomer, and combinations thereof;
• wherein the first solid electrodes are longitudinally oriented in the interior volume of the first hollow fiber;
• wherein each of the first and second solid electrodes has both a uniform diameter and is of solid form throughout a full length of the solid electrode;
• and
• wherein the second solid electrodes are longitudinally oriented in the interior volume of the tube and in direct contact with the second electrolyte fluid.

An electrochemical device comprising:

• a tube having a cap end volume and an interior tubular volume and comprising:
• a tubular electrolyte fluid suffusing the interior tubular volume;
• hollow fibers, each hollow fiber:
• having first solid electrodes extending through an interior fiber volume of the hollow fiber, the interior fiber volume without direct contact with the tubular electrolyte fluid;
• having a submillimeter outside diameter;
• and
• extending through the interior tubular volume and at least partially into the cap end volume;
• second solid electrodes, each second solid electrode:
• extending at least a portion through the interior tubular volume without extending into the cap end volume;
• and
• in direct contact with the tubular electrolyte fluid;
• and
• a sealing system comprising:
• an end seal at each end of the interior tubular volume to contain the tubular electrolyte fluid within the interior tubular volume;
• and
• a cap seal at an end of the tube to contain a hollow fiber electrolyte fluid between the cap seal and the respective end seal in proximity to the cap seal;
• wherein each hollow fiber further comprises:
• an electrolyte impervious membrane separating the interior fiber volume from direct contact with the tubular electrolyte fluid;
• and
• the hollow fiber electrolyte fluid suffusing in the interior fiber volume;
• wherein the first solid electrodes are in direct contact with the hollow fiber electrolyte fluid;
• wherein each of the first and second solid electrodes is of solid form throughout a full length of the solid electrode;
• wherein the sealing system and the electrolyte impervious membranes cooperate to ensure there is no mixing of the tubular electrolyte fluid and the hollow fiber electrolyte fluid in the electrochemical device;
• and
• wherein the electrochemical device presents at least one of:
• a peak charge and discharge power densities of >600 W/L and >150 W/L, respectively;
• a Coulombic efficiency of 99% or greater;
• a specific capacity of 500 mAh/g or greater;
• a stable capacity retention of 75% or greater after 100 cycles, wherein each cycle is a period of time for the electrochemical device to exhaust its potential and recharge to a maximum rechargeable potential;
• a specific capacity change of 5% or less;
• or
• a volume change of 40% or less.