Full-Hexacyanometallate Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries Exceeding 1.5 V in an Aqueous Solution

Aqueous redox flow batteries (RFBs) have attracted significant attention as energy storage systems by virtue of their inexpensive nature and long-lasting features. Although all-vanadium RFBs exhibit long lifetimes, the cost of vanadium resources fluctuates considerably, and is generally expensive. Iron-chromium RFBs take advantage of utilizing a low-cost and large abundance of iron and chromite ore; however, the redox chemistry of Cr-II/III generally involves strong Jahn-Teller effects. Herein, this work introduces a new Cr-based negolyte coordinated with strong-field ligands capable of mitigating strong Jahn-Teller effects, thereby facilitating low redox potential, high stability, and rapid kinetics. The balanced full-cell configuration features a stable lifetime of 500 cycles with energy density of 14 Wh L-1. With an excessive posolyte, the full-cell can attain a high energy density of 38.6 Wh L-1 as a single electron redox process. Consequently, the proposed system opens new avenues for the development of high-performance RFBs.

Automated summary

This work introduces a new chromium-based negative electrode material that can mitigate strong Jahn-Teller effects, resulting in low redox potential, high stability, and rapid kinetics. The balanced full-cell configuration exhibits a stable lifetime of 500 cycles with an energy density of 14 Wh L-1. Under excessive positive electrode conditions, the full-cell can achieve a high energy density of 38.6 Wh L-1 as a single electron redox process. Consequently, the proposed system opens new avenues for the development of high-performance RFBs.