MetILs: A FAMILY OF METAL IONIC LIQUIDS FOR REDOX FLOW BATTERIES

We present a new family of metal based ionic liquids (MetILs) for use in flow battery applications. These materials are synthesized in a single step by simply heating a metal salt in the presence of a ligand containing multiple polarizable functional groups. The utility of this reaction has allowed a wide range of metal cation, anion and ligand combinations to be prepared and electrochemically characterized. Compounds consisting of manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, or cerium coordination cations and weakly coordinating anions such as 2-ethylhexanoate, triflate, triflimide have been combined with alkanolamines to give room temperature ionic liquids. These ionically conductive materials act as both electrolyte and as the electroactive, charge storing, species. The results presented highlight the fundamental chemical concepts behind the formation of the materials as well as focus on physical and electrochemical properties.