Boosting Charge Storage in Ferri/Ferrocyanide‐Based Alkaline Redox Flow Batteries

ABSTRACT The ferri/ferrocyanide redox couple has long served as a benchmark catholyte in aqueous redox flow batteries (RBFs), particularly under highly alkaline conditions. However, the limited alkaline solubilities of commercially available Na + and K + forms constrain the attainable energy density of these systems. Here, we demonstrate that Li + substitution substantially boosts the alkaline solubility of ferri/ferrocyanide, offering a promising route to overcome the long‐standing energy density limitation. Complementary spectroscopic and computational analyses reveal a distinct solubilization mechanism in which Li + promotes mixed‐solvation and aggregate‐rich solution structures that sustain highly concentrated, fully dissolved electrolytes beyond the saturation behavior of Na + and K + analogs. When Li 3/4 Fe(CN) 6 is paired with polysulfide or organic anolytes, the resulting flow cells demonstrate exceptional cycling stability and energy density in alkaline environments. Using symmetric flow cell configurations, we further elucidate the stability and decomposition mechanisms of the corresponding redox materials, revealing contrasting effects of electrolyte alkalinity: it compromises ferri/ferrocyanide stability while substantially enhancing polysulfide stability. These findings establish complementary molecular insights into redox materials solubilization and stabilization, providing a mechanistic foundation for developing energy‐dense and durable alkaline RBFs.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2026-09-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.3588313
Primary Topic
Advanced battery technologies research
Type
article
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article

Boosting Charge Storage in Ferri/Ferrocyanide‐Based Alkaline Redox Flow Batteries

Nav Nidhi Rajput, Xiaoliang Wei, David Jonathan Bazak, Sepideh Biabanialitappeh et al.
Angewandte Chemie
Advanced battery technologies research
article

Boosting Charge Storage in Ferri/Ferrocyanide‐Based Alkaline Redox Flow Batteries

Nav Nidhi Rajput, Xiaoliang Wei, David Jonathan Bazak, Sepideh Biabanialitappeh, Mahla Sarfaraz Khabbaz, Kuldeepsinh Raj, Lucas Zhang
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT The ferri/ferrocyanide redox couple has long served as a benchmark catholyte in aqueous redox flow batteries (RBFs), particularly under highly alkaline conditions. However, the limited alkaline solubilities of commercially available Na + and K + forms constrain the attainable energy density of these systems. Here, we demonstrate that Li + substitution substantially boosts the alkaline solubility of ferri/ferrocyanide, offering a promising route to overcome the long‐standing energy density limitation. Complementary spectroscopic and computational analyses reveal a distinct solubilization mechanism in which Li + promotes mixed‐solvation and aggregate‐rich solution structures that sustain highly concentrated, fully dissolved electrolytes beyond the saturation behavior of Na + and K + analogs. When Li 3/4 Fe(CN) 6 is paired with polysulfide or organic anolytes, the resulting flow cells demonstrate exceptional cycling stability and energy density in alkaline environments. Using symmetric flow cell configurations, we further elucidate the stability and decomposition mechanisms of the corresponding redox materials, revealing contrasting effects of electrolyte alkalinity: it compromises ferri/ferrocyanide stability while substantially enhancing polysulfide stability. These findings establish complementary molecular insights into redox materials solubilization and stabilization, providing a mechanistic foundation for developing energy‐dense and durable alkaline RBFs.

Angewandte Chemie
University of Indianapolis (US), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (US), Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (US), Stony Brook University (US)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 21%
Advanced battery technologies research
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Boosting Charge Storage in Ferri/Ferrocyanide‐Based Alkaline Redox Flow Batteries — Nav Nidhi Rajput, Xiaoliang Wei, et al. · Angewandte Chemie (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS