Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are a promising energy storage technology that complement intermittent sources of renewable energy. Merits such as decoupled energy and power, scalability, good safety profiles, and long lifetimes suggest that RFBs are viable candidates for next-generation large scale electrochemical energy storage systems. The use of aqueous electrolytes in RFBs are particularly interesting due to their non-flammable nature and low cost. In this presentation, we share the synthesis, characterization, and application of a family of simple water-soluble organic molecules based upon the phenazine framework. Phenazine molecules serve as the basis for a number of biological systems that mediate electron-transfer reactions, and this moiety is capable of undergoing stable two-electron reversible redox reactions. The key to this work is the incorporation of hydrophilic substituents to maximize their solubility in water to increase the energy density of the RFBs. The redox potentials, solubility and stability of the phenazine moieties are modulated through the tailoring of the number and position of the functional groups. When paired with a catholyte comprising sodium ferrocyanide catholyte, the performance of full cell aqueous RFBs was investigated, the results of which are described.

Molecular engineering of phenazine-based anolytes for aqueous organic redox flow batteries

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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