Evanston, United States - January 07, 2025 A pioneering breakthrough from Northwestern University is turning industrial waste into a powerful tool for energy storage, potentially revolutionizing green battery technology. Researchers have successfully transformed triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO), a common but discarded chemical byproduct, into an effective energy-storing molecule for redox flow batteries. These organic redox flow batteries, which use chemical reactions to store and release energy, have long been seen as a promising alternative to metal-based solutions like lithium-ion batteries. However, the use of waste-derived TPPO marks the first time an unwanted industrial product has been leveraged for this purpose. The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on January 7, reveals that TPPO can achieve high energy density and stability, characteristics that have traditionally been difficult to optimize together. The TPPO-based batteries maintained excellent performance after 350 charge-discharge cycles without significant capacity loss, demonstrating their potential for long-term use. As redox flow batteries gain traction in grid-scale energy storage, this breakthrough opens the door to using waste materials in a way that supports the transition to sustainable energy solutions. “Our discovery showcases the potential of transforming waste compounds into valuable resources,” said Christian Malapit, lead author of the study.