THIANTHRENE-CONTAINING REDOX MOLECULES FOR SUPERIOR CELL VOLTAGES

Disclosed herein are a variety of systems, compositions, and methods for reversibly storing electrical energy in a redox flow battery with a unit cell potential equal to or greater than 3.5 volts. The systems may include a positive section, a negative section, and an electroactive bipolar redox molecule comprising an anolyte moiety and a thianthrene-containing catholyte moiety separated by a non-conjugating insulating linker. The thianthrene-containing catholyte moiety may comprise thianthrene or at least one of its derivatives and the non-conjugating insulating linker comprises at least two —CXlinkers, wherein X comprises at least one atom of hydrogen and/or heteroatoms. The positive section may comprise a first metal electrode in contact with the electroactive bipolar redox molecule and a supporting electrolyte dissolved in a solvent. The negative section may comprise a second metal electrode in contact with the electroactive bipolar redox molecule and additional electrolyte dissolved in additional solvent.