F. Hasan, C. Bejger
UNC Charlotte,
United States
Keywords: redox flow batteries, organic
Summary:
Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising energy storage devices that play a pivotal role in mitigating the gap between grid-scale energy demand and utilization. Conventional RFBs rely on acidic electrolytes and expensive vanadium-based salts. Nonaqueous organic RFBs are particularly attractive from a voltage standpoint but remain far less developed than their aqueous counterparts. Our group has been studying substituted [3]radialene molecules as catholytes for RFBs. Here, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a series of functionalized [3]radialenes based on cyanoacetamide and Meldrum’s acid derivatives. These [3]radialenes support multielectron transfer and exhibit good solubility in acetonitrile. Electrochemical analysis, including galvanostatic cyclic charge-discharge studies, and flow cell tests on these compounds will also be presented.