Storing Energy: Aqueous Flow Battery Technology

Dear Colleagues,

Batteries play an important role in converting energy from sustainable sources to electricity. Rechargeable stationary batteries, such as lead acid, alkaline, and lithium-ion batteries, currently provide reliable and cost-effective power. However, they are not the best option for large-scale grid storage due to poor safety, charge/discharge efficiency, and scale-up cost.

An attractive solution is using redox flow batteries (RFBs) with independent control of power and energy capacity. However, existing battery technologies are hampered by expensive redox-active metals, precious metal electrocatalysts, and their need to be operated in caustic conditions. Promising alternatives are organic-based aqueous RFBs. Organic-based aqueous RFBs use organic reactants that are cheaper than those needed for standard batteries and can more easily undergo structural modification to improve voltage, rate capacity, and energy density. Rational design of materials, battery architecture, and the involved chemical reactions are fundamental for the development of the next-generation, high-performing aqueous RFBs.

Here, we invite authors to submit original as well as review articles that will contribute to advancing the field of aqueous flow batteries. This includes but is not limited to new and emerging technology in aqueous flow batteries, development of membranes, synthesis of redox active materials, practical application of RFBs, electrolytes development, anolytes and catholytes technology, decomposition mechanisms, and simulation and modelling of potential materials.

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• energy storage
• aqueous flow battery
• green technology
• organic redox materials
• sustainable technology