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Comparison of Quinone‐Based Catholytes for Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries and Demonstration of Long‐Term Stability with Tetrasubstituted Quinones
Author(s) -
Gerken James B.,
Anson Colin W.,
Preger Yuliya,
Symons Peter G.,
Genders J. David,
Qiu Yang,
Li Wenzhen,
Root Thatcher W.,
Stahl Shan S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.202000340
Subject(s) - redox , quinone , aqueous solution , electrolyte , materials science , anthraquinone , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry
Quinones are appealing targets as organic charge carriers for aqueous redox flow batteries (RFBs), but their utility continues to be constrained by limited stability under operating conditions. The present study evaluates the stability of a series of water‐soluble quinones, with redox potentials ranging from 605–885 mV versus NHE, under acidic aqueous conditions (1 m H 2 SO 4 ). Four of the quinones are examined as cathodic electrolytes in an aqueous RFB, paired with anthraquinone‐2,7‐disulfonate as the anodic electrolyte. The RFB data complement other solution stability tests and show that the most stable electrolyte is a tetrasubstituted quinone containing four sulfonated thioether substituents. The results highlight the importance of substituting all C–H positions of the quinone in order to maximize the quinone stability and set the stage for design of improved organic electrolytes for aqueous RFBs.