Sulfonate-Based Triazine Multiple-Electron Anolyte for Aqueous Organic Flow Batteries

A new highly soluble triazine derivative (SPr) 3 4TpyTz showing three reversible redox processes with fast kinetics and high diffusion coefficients has been synthesized using an efficient, low-cost, and straightforward synthetic route. Concentrated single cell tests and DFT studies reveal a tendency of the reduced triazine species to form aggregates which could be avoided by tuning the supporting electrolyte concentration. Under the right conditions, (SPr) 3 4TpyTz shows no capacity decay and good Coulombic, voltage, and energy efficiencies for the storage of two electrons. The storage of further electrons leads to a higher capacity decay and an increase of the electrolyte pH, suggesting the irreversible protonation of the generated species. So, a plausible mechanism has been proposed. A higher concentration of (SPr) 3 4TpyTz shows slightly higher capacity decay and lower efficiencies due to the aggregate formation.