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High current density, long duration cycling of soluble organic active species for non-aqueous redox flow batteries
- Source :
- Energy & Environmental Science. 9:3531-3543
- Publication Year :
- 2016
- Publisher :
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2016.
-
Abstract
- Non-aqueous redox flow batteries (NAqRFBs) employing redox-active organic molecules show promise to meet requirements for grid energy storage. Here, we combine the rational design of organic molecules with flow cell engineering to boost NAqRFB performance. We synthesize two highly soluble phenothiazine derivatives, N-(2-methoxyethyl)phenothiazine (MEPT) and N-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]phenothiazine (MEEPT), via a one-step synthesis from inexpensive precursors. Synthesis and isolation of the radical-cation salts permit UV-vis decay studies that illustrate the high stability of these open-shell species. Cyclic voltammetry and bulk electrolysis experiments reveal the promising electrochemical properties of MEPT and MEEPT under dilute conditions. A high performance non-aqueous flow cell, employing interdigitated flow fields and carbon paper electrodes, is engineered and demonstrated; polarization and impedance studies quantify the cell's low area-specific resistance (3.2–3.3 Ω cm2). We combine the most soluble derivative, MEEPT, and its tetrafluoroborate radical-cation salt in the flow cell for symmetric cycling, evincing a current density of 100 mA cm−2 with undetectable capacity fade over 100 cycles. This coincident high current density and capacity retention is unprecedented in NAqRFB literature.
- Subjects :
- Aqueous solution
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Analytical chemistry
02 engineering and technology
010402 general chemistry
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
Electrochemistry
7. Clean energy
01 natural sciences
Pollution
Redox
0104 chemical sciences
chemistry.chemical_compound
Nuclear Energy and Engineering
Chemical engineering
chemistry
Phenothiazine
Electrode
Environmental Chemistry
Bulk electrolysis
Cyclic voltammetry
0210 nano-technology
Polarization (electrochemistry)
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 17545706 and 17545692
- Volume :
- 9
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Energy & Environmental Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........3cf678cc383c3dcdd88186f9fbcf7545