Abstract
This work addresses the effects of supramolecular complexation by cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) on the cell potential of aqueous batteries based on ferrocene and 4,4′-bipyridinum (viologen) electroactive materials. It was previously known that the oxidation potential of cationic ferrocene derivatives is shifted to more positive values by the formation of highly stable 1 : 1 binary complexes with CB[7]. Here, we found that the formation of 1 : 2 ternary complexes between suitably designed viologens and CB[7] leads to a pronounced shift to more negative values in the first one-electron reduction potential of the viologen. Combining these two effects, we predict that the corresponding aqueous redox flow battery (RFB) -containing cationic ferrocene in the catholyte and viologen in the anolyte- will exhibit a potential of 1.04 V in the absence of CB[7] and 1.30 V in the presence of suitable concentrations of CB[7]. This substantial potential increase might be improved in future research, as the supramolecular complexation effect seems to be rather general.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 5610-5616 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | ChemElectroChem |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 22 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 18 2019 |
Keywords
- complexation
- cucurbit[7]uril
- ferrocene
- redox flow batteries
- viologen
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Catalysis
- Electrochemistry