RUI-CHE: Development of Organometallic Complexes for the Next-Generation of Non-Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries

在化学系化学合成项目的支持下，西方学院的Emmanuelle Despagnet-Ayoub正在研究用于储能的新型氧化还原活性材料。来自太阳能的可再生能源是一种很有前途的、环保的发电解决方案。然而，它们的间歇性行为与典型的能源需求不一致。因此，需要开发更高效的储能装置。氧化还原液流电池是一种很有前途的储能技术。然而，先前的氧化还原流技术由于能量密度低，在满足电网存储应用的性能要求方面存在相当大的挑战。本项目主要由有才华的大学生进行，旨在找到克服这些限制的解决方案。该研究将与其他促进西方学院STEM领域多样性的项目协同进行，如COSMOS（为西方学生创造科学和数学机会，S-STEM资助）和REAP（研究早期获取计划，谢尔曼·费尔柴尔德资助）项目。西方学院的Emmanuelle Despagnet-Ayoub正在为高能量密度氧化还原液流电池开发新的氧化还原活性材料。事实上，目前氧化还原液流电池的实际能量密度通常很低（10秒Wh/L），这是由于使用了具有狭窄电位窗口的水溶液和具有有限溶解度的氧化还原偶。在有机溶剂中具有高溶解度和可调形式电位的有机金属配合物的发展将有助于推动该领域的发展。PI最近报道了一种通过路易斯酸的外球配位阳极转移金属氧化还原偶的形式电位的策略。这一概念将进一步探讨各种复杂框架和刘易斯酸，以建立配体框架-刘易斯酸及其电化学性质之间的关系图。该项目最终将导致更多令人兴奋的系统，包括分子和大分子水平上的多个电子过程，以及非无害配体对称液流电池和固定化氧化还原活性物质的半固体液流电池的发展。该研究项目将在液流电池和储能的大背景下，为有机金属合成和电化学领域的本科生提供研究和培训机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With the support of the Chemical Synthesis program in the Division of Chemistry, Emmanuelle Despagnet-Ayoub of Occidental College is studying new redox active materials for energy storage. Renewable power sources derived from solar energy are promising and environmentally friendly solutions for generating electric power. However, their intermittent behavior does not align with the typical energy demand. Consequently, more efficient energy storage devices need to be developed. Redox flow batteries are a promising energy storage technology. However, prior redox-flow technologies have considerable challenges meeting the performance requirements for grid storage applications due to their low energy density. This project, carried out primarily by talented undergraduates, aims to find solutions to overcome these limitations. The research will be carried out synergistically with other projects promoting diversity in STEM fields at Occidental College, such as the COSMOS (Creating Opportunities in Science and Mathematics for Occidental Students, S-STEM grant) and the REAP (Research Early Access Program, Sherman Fairchild grant) programs.Emmanuelle Despagnet-Ayoub of Occidental College is developing new redox active materials for high energy density redox flow batteries. Indeed, the practical energy density of current redox flow batteries is typically low (10s of Wh/L) due to the use of aqueous solutions with narrow potential windows and redox couples with limited solubility. Development of organometallic complexes with a high solubility in organic solvents and tunable formal potentials will help advance the field. The PI has recently reported a strategy to anodically shift the formal potential of metal redox couples by outer-sphere coordination of Lewis acids. This concept will be further probed with a variety of complex frameworks and Lewis acids, in order to develop a relationship map between ligand framework-Lewis acid and their electrochemical properties. The project will ultimately lead to more exciting systems involving multiple electron processes at the molecular and macromolecular levels, and the development of symmetric flow batteries with non-innocent ligands and semi-solid flow batteries with immobilized redox active species. This research project will provide research and training opportunities to undergraduates in the fields of organometallic synthesis and electrochemistry within the larger context of flow batteries and energy storage.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.