The redox kinetics of VO2+/VO2+ and V3+/V2+ couples on a carbon paper (CP, HCP030 N, Shanghai Hesen, Ltd., China) electrode were investigated in terms of their standard rate constant (k0) and reaction mechanism. The values determined for k0 for VO2+ → VO2+ and V3+ → V2+ using the CP electrode are 1.0 × 10−3 and 1.1 × 10−3 cm s−1, respectively. The value of k0 increases by one or two order(s) of magnitude compared with values obtained using electrodes composed of pyrolytic graphite and glassy carbon. The acceleration of the redox kinetics of vanadium ions is a result of the large surface area of the CP electrode. An inner-sphere mechanism for the reaction on the surface of the electrode is proposed. The kinetic features of vanadium redox reactions on the CP electrode reveal that CP is suitable for use as the electrodes in vanadium redox-flow batteries.
