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Radical Stabilization of a Tripyridinium–Triazine Molecule Enables Reversible Storage of Multiple Electrons
Author(s) -
Huang Jinghua,
Hu Shuzhi,
Yuan Xianzhi,
Xiang Zhipeng,
Huang Mingbao,
Wan Kai,
Piao Jinhua,
Fu Zhiyong,
Liang Zhenxing
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202107216
Subject(s) - molecule , electrolyte , electron transfer , redox , chemistry , electron , triazine , flow battery , kinetics , polarization (electrochemistry) , energy storage , aqueous solution , density functional theory , photochemistry , chemical physics , electrode , computational chemistry , polymer chemistry , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , power (physics) , thermodynamics , physics , quantum mechanics
A novel organic molecule, 2,4,6‐tris[1‐(trimethylamonium)propyl‐4‐pyridiniumyl]‐1,3,5‐triazine hexachloride, was developed as a reversible six‐electron storage electrolyte for use in an aqueous redox flow battery (ARFB). Physicochemical characterization reveals that the molecule evolves from a radical to a biradical and finally to a quinoid structure upon accepting four electrons. Both the diffusion coefficient and the rate constant were sufficiently high to run a flow battery with low concentration and kinetics polarization losses. In a demonstration unit, the assembled flow battery affords a high specific capacity of 33.0 Ah L −1 and a peak power density of 273 mW cm −2 . This work highlights the rational design of electroactive organics that can manipulate multi‐electron transfer in a reversible way, which will pave the way to development of energy‐dense, manageable and low‐cost ARFBs.