Issue 47, 2021

High-performance anthraquinone with potentially low cost for aqueous redox flow batteries

Abstract

Electrolyte cost and long-term durability are the two most challenging obstacles to the practical utilization of redox-active organics in aqueous redox flow batteries. Starting from potentially inexpensive 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (1,8-DHAQ), we developed a one-pot, green, and scalable approach to synthesize a highly water-soluble and potentially low-cost anthraquinone 1,8-dihydroxy-2,7-dicarboxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (DCDHAQ). The demonstrated volumetric capacity of DCDHAQ in 1 M KOH is 40.2 A h L−1, which is around 70 times higher than that of its precursor 1,8-DHAQ (0.567 A h L−1) at pH 14. The introduction of –CH2CO2 as solubilizing groups suppressed the disproportionation reaction of reduced anthraquinone both thermodynamically and kinetically. Consequently, the cycling stability of anthraquinone was improved significantly compared to that of the precursor. Pairing a negolyte comprising 0.75 M DCDHAQ with a posolyte comprising 0.3 M ferrocyanide at pH 14, we demonstrated a cell with an open-circuit voltage of 1.1 V and a low capacity fade rate of 0.03% per day. The synthetic method of attaching –CH2CO2 as solubilizing groups is likely applicable to other anthraquinone derivatives and other aromatic organics as an inexpensive approach to performance enhancement in energy applications.

Graphical abstract: High-performance anthraquinone with potentially low cost for aqueous redox flow batteries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 oct. 2021
Accepted
16 nov. 2021
First published
18 nov. 2021

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021,9, 26709-26716

Author version available

High-performance anthraquinone with potentially low cost for aqueous redox flow batteries

M. Wu, M. Bahari, E. M. Fell, R. G. Gordon and M. J. Aziz, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9, 26709 DOI: 10.1039/D1TA08900E

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