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Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
; 59(51): 22943-22946, 2020 12 14.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32815619
ABSTRACT
We show the synthesis of a redox-active quinone, 2-methoxy-1,4-hydroquinone (MHQ), from a bio-based feedstock and its suitability as electrolyte in aqueous redox flow batteries. We identified semiquinone intermediates at insufficiently low pH and quinoid radicals as responsible for decomposition of MHQ under electrochemical conditions. Both can be avoided and/or stabilized, respectively, using H3 PO4 electrolyte, allowing for reversible cycling in a redox flow battery for hundreds of cycles.