Hybrid Solar-Flow Battery

Project Title: Coupling Charge-storage Redox Flow Batteries and Light Harvesting using Photoactive Materials

Goal

The focus of the project is to develop photocatholytes and photoanalytes that can be directly charged with light energy for use in liquid redox flow batteries.

Approach

We aim to develop water-soluble organic compounds that can serve as both the light absorbing species and energy storage component of a hybrid solar-flow battery (SFB). In this way, a single device will fulfill functions of a solar cell and a battery by converting solar energy into a storable electrochemical fuel that later can be converted into electricity. We propose using dual-functional, organic, thiazolothiazole viologen (TTzV) molecules as the active species in these devices.

Collaborators

Dr. Christopher Bejger
Dr. Christopher Bejger
Dr. Michael Walter
Dr. Michael Walter