Molecular Engineering of an Alkaline Naphthoquinone Flow Battery

Tong, Liuchuan; Goulet, Marc‐Antoni; Tabor, Daniel P.; Kerr, Emily F.; Porcellinis, Diana De; Fell, Eric M.; Aspuru‐Guzik, Alán; Gordon, Roy G.; Aziz, Michael J.

doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.9b01321

Cited by 104 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…[133] Michael addition was also prone to occur at the C-H position next to the functional group 3.3i in alkaline media. Tong et al [136] constructed a bislawsone structure with two naphthoquinones linked by their 3-position. 3.3j, bislawsone demonstrated a higher stability than 3.3i and operated for 600 cycles at 100-300 mA cm −2 with 98.3% utilization of the anolyte capacity.…”

Section: Challenges and Mitigation Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Material Design of Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries: Fundamental Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

2020

Advanced Materials

157

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redox flow systems to date. [7] However, their high chemical cost (V 2 O 5 , $24 kg −1) and low energy density (E d < 50 Wh L −1 , normalized based on both side of the electrolytes, unless specified otherwise) limit their wide implementation for large-scale grid storage. To boost the energy density of RFBs, nonaqueous RFBs with a wider potential window were developed. However, nonaqueous RFBs face intrinsic challenges such as high cost, flammability, and low ionic conductivity of organic electrolytes. [8] Here, we review recent developments of advanced materials for electrolyte design in ARFBs. We further classified ARFBs based on the type of active material: inorganic ARFBs (i.e., AIRFBs, including vanadium-, zinc-, iron-, polysulfide-based, and two other emerging systems); and organic ARFBs (i.e., AORFBs, including viologen-, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO)-, quinone-, and N-centered heteroaromatic-mole culebased systems). We first summarize the fundamental physicochemical properties of redox couples in each ARFB system and then discuss critical challenges and mitigation design strategies to shed light on the design guidelines for future RFBs. Finally, assessment methodologies and metrics for evaluating battery stability among different ARFBs are discussed. 2. Aqueous Inorganic Redox Flow Batteries (AIRFBs) 2.1. Vanadium-Based AIRFBs 2.1.1. Fundamental Physicochemical Properties All-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs, Figure 1a) are the most developed and widely used RFB system to date. Applying a vanadium element with diverse valence states (i.e., +2, +3, +4, and +5) effectively minimizes cross contamination, facilitates electrolyte regeneration, and provides long-term durability (Figure 1b-e). For example, a 200 MW/800 MWh system has been under construction by Dalian Rongke Power since 2016. [9] The reversible cell voltage of a VRFB is 1.26 V. The nominal cell voltage of VRFBs ranges from 1.15 to 1.55 V in acidic electrolytes, since the catholyte potential is pH-dependent. [10] The redox reactions on both sides are shown in the cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis in Figure 1f. [11] Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are critical enablers for next-generation grid-scale energy-storage systems, due to their scalability and flexibility in decoupling power and energy. Aqueous RFBs (ARFBs) using nonflammable electrolytes are intrinsically safe. However, their development has been limited by their low energy density and high cost. Developing ARFBs with higher energy density, lower cost, and longer lifespan than the current standard is of significant interest to academic and industrial research communities. Here, a critical review of the latest progress on advanced electrolyte material designs of ARFBs is presented, including a fundamental overview of their physicochemical properties, major challenges, and design strategies. Assessment methodologies and metrics for the evaluation of RFB stability are discussed. Finally, future directions for material design to realize practical applications and achieve the comme...

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Section: Challenges and Mitigation Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tong et al. [ 136 ] constructed a bislawsone structure with two naphthoquinones linked by their 3‐position. 3.3j, bislawsone demonstrated a higher stability than 3.3i and operated for 600 cycles at 100–300 mA cm −2 with 98.3% utilization of the anolyte capacity.…”

Section: Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries (Aorfbs)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Material Design of Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries: Fundamental Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

2020

Advanced Materials

157

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“…86 The solubility of organic carbonyl materials may have been a drawback for LIB electrodes; however, this is a necessary characteristic of anolytes in redox flow battery systems. [87][88][89] Compared to inorganic compounds such as vanadium in sulfuric acid, carbonyl-based organic anolytes are cheaper and greener alternatives. Another advantage is the large library of carbonyl compounds with different modifications to improve the solubility, capacity or working voltage of the battery.…”

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design strategies for organic carbonyl materials for energy storage: Small molecules, oligomers, polymers and supramolecular structures

Schon

McAllister

et al. 2020

EcoMat

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Organic electrodes are attractive candidates for electrochemical energy storage devices because they are lightweight, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. In recent years, many researchers have focused on the development of carbonyl-containing materials for organic electrodes. These materials demonstrate promising results as the next generation of rechargeable batteries owing to their fast redox kinetics and structural diversity in design. However, these electrodes still exhibit intrinsic drawbacks such as solubility in battery electrolytes and low electrical conductivity. This review provides recent examples of organic carbonyl-containing electrodes that highlight strategies to overcome these inherent limitations, and pave the way to develop an organic rechargeable battery that has high-energy density and long cycle life.

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“…Degradation of the active material in alkaline solutions is one of the considerable challenges of quinone‐based RFBs. An RFB based on 5 recently developed by Aziz and co‐workers represents a considerable effort to remediate the structural stability of natural naphthoquinone materials for these systems (Figure ) . Lawsone ( 3 ) was previously thought to be unsuitable for RFB applications due to the reactivity of the 3‐CH position, which makes it susceptible to Michael addition and degradation in alkaline media during cycling.…”

Section: Next‐generation Organic Cathode Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stability of the dimer is improved by deactivation of the 3‐CH position of 3 , which is susceptible to Michael addition and nucleophilic attack in the alkaline electrolyte. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.…”

Section: Next‐generation Organic Cathode Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioderived Molecular Electrodes for Next‐Generation Energy‐Storage Materials

et al. 2020

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Nature‐derived organic small molecules, as energy‐storage materials, provide low‐cost, recyclable, and non‐toxic alternatives to inorganic and polymer electrodes for lithium‐/sodium‐ion batteries and beyond. Some organic carbonyl compounds have met or exceeded the voltages and gravimetric storage capacities achieved by traditional transition metal oxide‐based compounds due to the metal‐ion coupled redox and facile electron‐transport capability of functional groups. Stability issues that previously limited the capacity of small organic molecules can be remediated with reactions to form insoluble salts, noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonding and π stacking), loading onto substrates, and careful electrolyte selection. The cost‐effectiveness and sustainability of organic materials may further be improved by employing porphyrin‐based electrodes and multivalent‐ion batteries utilizing abundant metals, such as aluminum and zinc. Finally, redox flow batteries take advantage of the solubility of organics for the development of scalable, high power density, and safe energy‐storage devices based on aqueous electrolytes. Herein, the advantages and prospects of small molecule‐based electrodes, with a focus on nature‐derived organic and biomimetic materials, to realize the next‐generation of green battery chemistry are reviewed.

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Molecular Engineering of an Alkaline Naphthoquinone Flow Battery

Cited by 104 publications

References 35 publications

Material Design of Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries: Fundamental Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

Material Design of Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries: Fundamental Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

Design strategies for organic carbonyl materials for energy storage: Small molecules, oligomers, polymers and supramolecular structures

Bioderived Molecular Electrodes for Next‐Generation Energy‐Storage Materials

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