Emerging chemistries and molecular designs for flow batteries

Redox flow batteries are a critical technology for large-scale energy storage, offering the promising characteristics of high scalability, design flexibility and decoupled energy and power. In recent years, they have attracted extensive research interest, with significant advances in relevant materials chemistry, performance metrics and characterization. The emerging concepts of hybrid battery design, redox-targeting strategy, photoelectrode integration and organic redox-active materials present new chemistries for cost-effective and sustainable energy storage systems. This Review summarizes the recent development of next-generation redox flow batteries, providing a critical overview of the emerging redox chemistries of active materials from inorganics to organics. We discuss electrochemical characterizations and critical performance assessment considering the intrinsic properties of the active materials and the mechanisms that lead to degradation of energy storage capacity. In particular, we highlight the importance of advanced spectroscopic analysis and computational studies in enabling understanding of relevant mechanisms. We also outline the technical requirements for rational design of innovative materials and electrolytes to stimulate more exciting research and present the prospect of this field from aspects of both fundamental science and practical applications.