PYRIDINIUM DERIVATIVES MADE BY HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS FOR USE AS ANOLYTES IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS

Pyridinium derivatives, methods of making the pyridinium derivatives, and electrochemical cells that use the pyridinium derivatives as anolytes are provided. The pyridinium derivatives have a redox core with two or more pyridinium groups and substituents at pyridinium ring nitrogen atoms. The pyridinium derivatives can be made by reacting pyridyl reactant molecules having two or more pyridyl groups with water-soluble derivatizing reactant molecules via a hydrothermal synthesis.