A bipolar verdazyl radical for a symmetric all-organic redox flow-type battery

A symmetric all-organic non-aqueous redox flow-type battery was investigated employing the neutral small molecule radical 3-phenyl-1,5-di-p-tolylverdazyl,which can be reversibly oxidized and reduced in one-electron processes,as the sole charge storage material.Cyclic voltammetry of the verdazyl radical in 0.5 M tetrabutylammonium hexa fluoro phosphate(TBAPF6)in acetonitrile revealed redox couples at-0.17 V and-1.15 V vs.Ag+/Ag,leading to a theoretical cell voltage of 0.98 V.From the dependence of peak currents on the square root of the scan rate,diffusion coefficients on the order of 4 x 10 6 cm2 s-1 were demonstrated.Cycling performance was assessed in a static cell employing a Tokoyuma AHA anion exchange membrane,with 0.04 M verdazyl as catholyte and anolyte in 0.5 M TBAPF6 in acetonitrile at a current density of 0.12 mA cm-2.Although coulombic efficiencies were good(94%-97%)throughout the experiment,the capacity faded gradually from high initial values of 93%of the theoretical discharge capacity to 35%by the 50th cycle.Voltage and energy efficiencies were 68%and 65%,respectively.Postcycling analysis by cyclic voltammetry revealed that decomposition of the active material with cycling is a leading cause of cell degradation.

A symmetric all-organic non-aqueous redox flow-type battery was investigated employing the neutral small molecule radical 3-phenyl-1,5-di-p-tolylverdazyl,which can be reversibly oxidized and reduced in one-electron processes,as the sole charge storage material.Cyclic voltammetry of the verdazyl radical in 0.5 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate（TBAPF6）in acetonitrile revealed redox couples at-0.17 V and-1.15 V vs.Ag+/Ag,leading to a theoretical cell voltage of 0.98 V.From the dependence of peak currents on the square root of the scan rate,diffusion coefficients on the order of 4×10-6cm2s-1were demonstrated.Cycling performance was assessed in a static cell employing a Tokoyuma AHA anion exchange membrane,with 0.04 M verdazyl as catholyte and anolyte in 0.5 M TBAPF6in acetonitrile at a current density of 0.12 mA cm-2.Although coulombic efficiencies were good（94%–97%）throughout the experiment,the capacity faded gradually from high initial values of 93%of the theoretical discharge capacity to 35% by the 50th cycle.Voltage and energy efficiencies were 68% and 65%,respectively.Postcycling analysis by cyclic voltammetry revealed that decomposition of the active material with cycling is a leading cause of cell degradation.