Single‐Molecule Redox‐Targeting Reactions for a pH‐Neutral Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Battery.

Aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs) have received considerable attention for large‐scale energy storage. Quinone derivatives, such as 9,10‐anthraquinone‐2,7‐disulphonic acid (2,7‐AQDS), have been explored intensively owing to potentially low cost and swift reaction kinetics. However, the low solubility in pH‐neutral electrolytes restricts their application to corrosive acidic or caustic systems. Herein, the single molecule redox‐targeting reactions of 2,7‐AQDS anolyte are presented to circumvent its solubility limit in pH‐neutral electrolytes. Polyimide was employed as a low‐cost high‐capacity solid material to boost the capacity of 2,7‐AQDS electrolyte to 97 Ah L−1. Through in situ FTIR spectroscopy, a hydrogen‐bonding mediated reaction mechanism was disclosed. In conjunction with NaI as catholyte and nickel hexacyanoferrate as the catholyte capacity booster, a single‐molecule redox‐targeting reaction‐based full cell with energy density up to 39 Wh L−1 was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]