A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Evaluating Reaction Kinetics Between Solid Booster and Dissolved Active Species in Redox‐Mediated Flow Batteries Using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy; 
Authors: Santana Santos, Carla; Jiyane, Nomnotho; Quast, Thomas; Ibanez, Maria; Rubio-Presa, Ruben; Peljo, Pekka; Schuhmann, Wolfgang
Publisher: Wiley
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Batteries & Supercaps
Article number: e70303
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
eISSN: 2566-6223
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70303
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70303
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/523753980
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Redox-mediated flow batteries boost energy density by utilizing dissolved redox species as charge carriers for solid charge-storage materials. This strategy strongly depends on the thermodynamics and kinetics between the solid booster and dissolved redox species. Conventional electrochemical methods often convolute intrinsic reactivity with mass transport effects, introducing complexity in determining limiting steps. We propose a strategy that confines solid boosters within recessed microelectrodes and employs scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to estimate reaction kinetics between booster and dissolved active redox species. Confining the solid booster in the recessed microelectrode overcomes mass transport limitations of dissolved redox species and enables controlled polarization of the booster material, allowing deconvolution of key rate-determining factors. As an initial model system, Prussian blue-ferricyanide/ferrocyanide [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- was used as solid booster and dissolved redox active species, respectively. The methodology was further explored for copper hexacyanoferrate with N,N,N-2,2,6,6-heptamethylpiperidinyl oxy-4-ammonium chloride and nickel hydroxide with [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and extended to Mn-based Prussian blue analogues in combination with organic redox species. Our results demonstrate that SECM coupled with the proposed recessed microelectrode strategy provides a powerful platform to disentangle interfacial kinetics and guide the rational design of solid booster-dissolved redox species and electrolytes for high-performance redox-mediated flow batteries.
Keywords:
microelectrochemistry, Rate constant, recessed microelectrode, redox-mediated flow batteries, redox targeting flow battery, scanning electrochemical microscopy, solid booster
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Funding information in the publication:
The authors acknowledge funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme- European Innovation Council (EIC) under the grant agreement No 101046742 (MeBattery). P.P. acknowledges the funding from the European Research Council through a Starting Grant (agreement no. 950038). Dr. Mahdi Moghaddam, University of Turku, is acknowledged for providing the CuHCF, and Prof. Hubert Girault, EPFL, is acknowledged for providing the TEMPTMA.