Pyridinium-base compounds are among the most promising anolytes in redox flow batteries (RFBs) owing to their ease of synthesis and well-behaved electrochemistry. In general, however, it has proven difficult to synthesize pyridinium species that combine all of the most highly desirable attributes for use in an RFB such as low material costs, high solubility, low reduction potential and a long-lived, robust radical state.<br/>Recently, we developed a simple synthetic route that employs very inexpensive building blocks to generate novel pyridinium anolytes in good yields and high purity. Numerous examples have been prepared, and several of the resulting compounds display solubilities &gt; 1 M in polar organic solvents, redox potentials &lt; -1.7 V vs Fc/Fc<sup>+</sup>, and very highly persistent radical states.<br/>The synthetic strategy and scope will be presented, along with electrochemical, spectroscopic, and kinetics data. Preliminary RFB cycling results will also be discussed.

Checking all the right boxes: Inexpensive, highly soluble, robust new anolytes for nonaqueous redox flow batteries

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.