Jubilant molecules engage in a scientific volleyball, storing and serving up green energy

The research image depicts a captivating analogy where organic molecules engage in a game of volleyball to symbolize the intricate dynamics of battery charging and discharging processes. The unique feature of these organic molecules, portrayed as a small cartoon figure, lies in their ability to undergo two-electron oxidation and two-electron reduction, embodying a bipolar nature. The volleyball itself symbolizes the movement of electrons within the battery, with its back-and-forth motion mirroring the charging and discharging cycles. The volleyball net serves as a metaphorical membrane, which prevents the mixing of two different oxidation states. This captivating visual metaphor captures the essence of the electrochemical reactions occurring within the battery. This research opens up a viable means to develop high energy density redox flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage. The original work published in ACS Energy Letters (https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.3c00969)