Can cell electrodes in series share the same current collector?

AI Thread Summary
Positive and negative electrodes in series can share the same current collector, as long as they are properly configured. The design involves using a single aluminum current collector coated in carbon, with the negative carbon cloth on one side and the positive carbon felt on the other. This setup is feasible and does not inherently create a short circuit, as long as the connections are managed correctly. The design aims to prevent zinc dendrites from forming excessively by allowing them to dissolve back into the electrolyte. Overall, this approach is valid for creating a 12V battery without individual current collectors for each cell.
Rich76
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Sorry if the answer is obvious, but I was wondering if positive and negative electrodes (cells in series) can share the same current collector as depicted below? I want to create a 12V battery with cells inline in series without creating cells with individual current collectors. Note that the cell chambers are sealed.

battery.png
 
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Perhaps I don't understand the idea, but it sounds like an attempt at short circuiting cells.
 
I see a simple set of batteries in series
 
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Borek said:
Perhaps I don't understand the idea, but it sounds like an attempt at short circuiting cells.
It's designed to be membrane free. The corrosive bromine at the surface of the positive carbon felt dissolves zinc dendrites forming from the negative electrode back into the electrolyte faster than they can build, given the appropriate charge current.
 
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BvU said:
I see a simple set of batteries in series

Yes. The cells share the same aluminium current collector (coated in carbon). Attached on one side of the current collector is the negative carbon cloth, and attached on the other side is the positive carbon felt. Is that okay?
 
I forgot to mention that the battery case is plastic (HDPE).
 
OK, "electrodes sharing current collector" was a bit ambiguous, I wasn't sure if you mean "connecting all current collectors together" or "current collector attached to anode on one side and cathode on the other side".

In the latter case these are just - like BvU wrote - batteries in series. You have to connect electrodes, whether you do it with an external wire or by using common sheet of metal doesn't matter.
 
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Thank you.
 
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