The increasing share of renewables such as solar and wind in energy supply challenges the grid stability since the generation often does not match demand. Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are considered as highly promising candidates for large-scale buffering systems to tackle the supply/demand imbalance. However, comprehensible sustainability in the energy system should also be based on renewable materials rather than the currently used non-renewable and often even toxic ones in commercial RFBs.<br/>Here, we study 2-methoxyhydroquinone (MHQ) as a lignin-derived renewable alternative to conventional active materials for redox flow batteries. The starting material, vanillin (4-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzaldehyde), was converted to MHQ using a rapid and selective oxidation reaction. To make MHQ suitable for RFB applications we had to stabilize it against competing photochemical reactions and electrochemical degradation. We have studied these side and decomposition reactions using NMR spectroscopy, EPR spectrometry, mass spectroscopy and electrochemical methods. Knowing the mechanism allowed us to introduce stabilizers that interfere with the formation of excited states which otherwise cause the photo- and electrochemical instability. In this work the electrochemical stability and performance of the assembled full RFB is presented.

2-Methoxyhydroquinone from vanillin as bio-based active material for redox-flow batteries

2019 Spring National Meeting

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