Waste to wonder: Scientists turn chemical byproducts into battery for power grids
This is the first use of phosphine oxides as redox-active components in batteries, with molecular engineering improving their stability for energy storage.
This is the first use of phosphine oxides as redox-active components in batteries, with molecular engineering improving their stability for energy storage.
Researchers have developed a method to convert industrial waste into a key material essential for battery production.
A team at Northwestern University has harnessed triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO), a waste molecule, to power a redox flow battery.
Redox flow batteries employ a chemical reaction to transfer energy between electrolytes, which store energy, as opposed to lithium and other solid-state batteries that store energy in electrodes.
“Our discovery showcases the potential of transforming waste compounds into valuable resources, offering a sustainable pathway for innovation in battery technology,” said Christian Malapit, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern and lead author of the study, in a statement.