Advances in organic electroactive species for enhancing the performance of all-aqueous redox flow batteries in electrochemical energy storage

Aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs) are emerging as promising energy storage systems due to their scalability, safety, and environmentally friendly nature. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recent advances in organic electroactive species for AORFBs, highlighting critical strategies for improving battery performance. After an introduction that outlines the relevance of AORFBs in modern energy challenges, the paper deepens into the working principles and essential components of these systems. Recent developments in organic anolytes and catholytes are discussed, focusing on innovations that enhance redox reversibility, optimize redox potential, and increase solubility and stability under aqueous conditions. A comparative analysis is provided, evaluating these organic species regarding energy density, power density, and cycling stability, demonstrating the improved performance achieved in AORFB systems. The review concludes by identifying future research directions for designing and engineering next-generation organic electrolytes, emphasizing maximizing electrochemical stability and energy storage efficiency to advance the practicality and competitiveness of AORFBs. • Advances in organic electroactive species for AORFBs • Strategies to enhance redox reversibility, solubility, and stability • Organic anolytes and catholytes are compared for energy density and cycling stability. • Future research on maximizing electrochemical stability and energy efficiency • AORFBs highlighted as scalable and eco-friendly energy storage solutions.