Samantha Macchi and her colleagues at Sandia National Laboratories have investigated the effect of chemical structure on the performance of bipolar redox molecules in non-aqueous flow batteries. Their findings are detailed in a report titled “Influence of Linker Group on Bipolar Redox-Active Molecule Performance in Non-Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries,” published in the journal ChemElectroChem on October 3, 2024.
This research is important because non-aqueous redox flow batteries offer high working voltages exceeding 5 V, making them a viable alternative to traditional aqueous systems. However, the stability of active materials and cell components in organic solvents remains a challenge. Understanding the relationship between molecular structure and cycling stability is essential for advancing this technology.
In their study, Macchi and her team explored the effects of length, polarity, and rigidity of the “innocent” groups that covalently link the two redox-active species. They identified several strategies to improve molecular stability and cycling performance, which could inform future molecular design efforts in flow batteries.
The publication in ChemElectroChem, a Wiley journal with an impact factor of 3.5, highlights the relevance of this work. Journals with impact factors above 3 are considered to publish significant research.
This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division.
Citation:
S. Macchi, C. L. Staiger, J. Cordova, C. Poirier, T. M. Anderson, ChemElectroChem 2024, e202400450. https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400450