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A redox-flow battery with an alloxazine-based organic electrolyte

Author

Listed:
  • Kaixiang Lin

    (Harvard University)

  • Rafael Gómez-Bombarelli

    (Harvard University)

  • Eugene S. Beh

    (Harvard University
    Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)

  • Liuchuan Tong

    (Harvard University)

  • Qing Chen

    (Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)

  • Alvaro Valle

    (Harvard College)

  • Alán Aspuru-Guzik

    (Harvard University)

  • Michael J. Aziz

    (Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)

  • Roy G. Gordon

    (Harvard University
    Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)

Abstract

Redox-flow batteries (RFBs) can store large amounts of electrical energy from variable sources, such as solar and wind. Recently, redox-active organic molecules in aqueous RFBs have drawn substantial attention due to their rapid kinetics and low membrane crossover rates. Drawing inspiration from nature, here we report a high-performance aqueous RFB utilizing an organic redox compound, alloxazine, which is a tautomer of the isoalloxazine backbone of vitamin B2. It can be synthesized in high yield at room temperature by single-step coupling of inexpensive o-phenylenediamine derivatives and alloxan. The highly alkaline-soluble alloxazine 7/8-carboxylic acid produces a RFB exhibiting open-circuit voltage approaching 1.2 V and current efficiency and capacity retention exceeding 99.7% and 99.98% per cycle, respectively. Theoretical studies indicate that structural modification of alloxazine with electron-donating groups should allow further increases in battery voltage. As an aza-aromatic molecule that undergoes reversible redox cycling in aqueous electrolyte, alloxazine represents a class of radical-free redox-active organics for use in large-scale energy storage.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaixiang Lin & Rafael Gómez-Bombarelli & Eugene S. Beh & Liuchuan Tong & Qing Chen & Alvaro Valle & Alán Aspuru-Guzik & Michael J. Aziz & Roy G. Gordon, 2016. "A redox-flow battery with an alloxazine-based organic electrolyte," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(9), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:1:y:2016:i:9:d:10.1038_nenergy.2016.102
    DOI: 10.1038/nenergy.2016.102
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    Cited by:

    1. Leung, P. & Martin, T. & Liras, M. & Berenguer, A.M. & Marcilla, R. & Shah, A. & An, L. & Anderson, M.A. & Palma, J., 2017. "Cyclohexanedione as the negative electrode reaction for aqueous organic redox flow batteries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 318-326.
    2. Xie, Heping & Wu, Yifan & Liu, Tao & Wang, Fuhuan & Chen, Bin & Liang, Bin, 2020. "Low-energy-consumption electrochemical CO2 capture driven by biomimetic phenazine derivatives redox medium," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    3. Mali, Vima & Saxena, Rajat & Kumar, Kundan & Kalam, Abul & Tripathi, Brijesh, 2021. "Review on battery thermal management systems for energy-efficient electric vehicles," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Leung, P. & Martin, T. & Xu, Q. & Flox, C. & Mohamad, M.R. & Palma, J. & Rodchanarowan, A. & Zhu, X. & Xing, W.W. & Shah, A.A., 2021. "A new aqueous all-organic flow battery with high cell voltage in acidic electrolytes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    5. Liang, Mengjun & Karthick, Ramalingam & Wei, Qiang & Dai, Jinhong & Jiang, Zhuosheng & Chen, Xuncai & Oo, Than Zaw & Aung, Su Htike & Chen, Fuming, 2022. "The progress and prospect of the solar-driven photoelectrochemical desalination," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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