Alkaline Benzoquinone Aqueous Flow Battery for Large-Scale Storage of Electrical Energy
Academic Article
Overview
Research
Identity
Additional Document Info
Other
View All
Overview
abstract
AbstractAn aqueous flow battery based on lowcost, nonflammable, noncorrosive, and earthabundant elements is introduced. During charging, electrons are stored in a concentrated water solution of 2,5dihydroxy1,4benzoquinone, which rapidly receives electrons with inexpensive carbon electrodes without the assistance of any metal electrocatalyst. Electrons are withdrawn from a second water solution of a food additive, potassium ferrocyanide. When these two solutions flow along opposite sides of a cationconducting membrane, this flow battery delivers a cell potential of 1.21 V, a peak galvanic power density of 300 mW cm2, and a coulombic efficiency exceeding 99%. Continuous cell cycling at 100 mA cm2 shows a capacity retention rate of 99.76% cycle1 over 150 cycles. Various molecular modifications involving substitution for hydrogens on the aryl ring are implemented to block decomposition by nucleophilic attack of hydroxide ions. These modifications result in increased capacity retention rates of up to 99.96% cycle1 over 400 consecutive cycles, accompanied by changes in voltage, solubility, kinetics, and cell resistance. Quantum chemistry calculations of a large number of organic compounds predict a number of related structures that should have even higher performance and stability. Flow batteries based on alkalinesoluble dihydroxybenzoquinones and derivatives are promising candidates for largescale, stationary storage of electrical energy.
Yang, Z., Tong, L., Tabor, D. P., Beh, E. S., Goulet, M., De Porcellinis, D., ... Aziz, M. J.
citation count
185
complete list of authors
Yang, Zhengjin||Tong, Liuchuan||Tabor, Daniel P||Beh, Eugene S||Goulet, Marc-Antoni||De Porcellinis, Diana||Aspuru-Guzik, Alan||Gordon, Roy G||Aziz, Michael J
