Redox flow battery with carbon dioxide based redox couple

A redox flow battery where the negative electrode uses carbon dioxide based redox couples. The negative electrode contains a bifunctional catalyst that allows for the reduction of carbon dioxide to carbonaceous species (e.g., formic acid, oxalic acid or their salts) in the battery charge (i.e., energy storage) mode, and for the oxidation of the above-mentioned carbonaceous species in the battery discharge (i.e., energy generation) mode. The positive electrode of the battery can utilize a variety of redox couples including but not restricted to bromine-bromide, chlorine-chloride, vanadium (IV)-vanadium (V), chromium (III)-dichromate (VII), cerium (III)-cerium (IV), oxygen-water (or hydroxide).