Abstract: The invention features redox flow batteries and compound useful therein as negolytes or posolytes. The batteries and compounds are advantageous in terms of being useable in water solutions at neutral pH and have extremely high capacity retention. Suitable negolytes are diquaternized bipyridines, suitable posolytes are water-soluble ferrocene derivatives.

Abstract: We disclose quinone compounds and related species (Formula I) that possess significant advantages when used as a redox active material in a battery, e.g., a redox flow battery. In particular, the compounds provide redox flow batteries (RFBs) with extremely high capacity retention. For example, RFBs of the invention can be cycled for 500 times with negligible loss of capacity, and such batteries could be employed for years of service. Thus, the invention provides a high efficiency, long cycle life redox flow battery with reasonable power cost, low energy cost, and all the energy scaling advantages of a flow battery.

Abstract: The invention provides flow batteries including an anthraquinone and methods of discharging the batteries that reduce loss of capacity. The loss of capacity of anthraquinones may be mitigated by controlling the state of charge and/or oxidizing the negolyte.

Abstract: The invention provides flow batteries including an anthraquinone and methods of discharging the batteries that reduce loss of capacity. The loss of capacity of anthraquinones may be mitigated by controlling the state of charge and/or oxidizing the negolyte.

Abstract: The invention provides an electro-chemical cell based on a new chemistry for a flow battery for large scale, e.g., gridscale, electrical energy storage. Electrical energy is stored chemically in quinone molecules having multiple oxidation states, e.g., three or more. During charging of the battery, the quinone molecules at one electrode are oxidized by emitting electrons and protons, and the quinone molecules at the other electrode are reduced by accepting electrons and protons. These reactions are reversed to deliver electrical energy. The invention also provides additional high and low potential quinones that are useful in rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical CO2 capture device and methods employing proton-coupled redox active species, e.g., a quinone, phenazine, alloxazine, isoalloxazine, or polyoxometalate, whose protonation and deprotonation can be controlled electrochemically to modify the pH of an aqueous solution or aqueous suspension. This change in pH can be used to sequester and release CO2. The CO2 capture device can be used to sequester gaseous CO2 from a point source, such as flue gas, or from ambient air.

Abstract: We disclose quinone compounds and related species (Formula I) that possess significant advantages when used as a redox active material in a battery, e.g., a redox flow battery. In particular, the compounds provide redox flow batteries (RFBs) with extremely high capacity retention. For example, RFBs of the invention can be cycled for 500 times with negligible loss of capacity, and such batteries could be employed for years of service. Thus, the invention provides a high efficiency, long cycle life redox flow battery with reasonable power cost, low energy cost, and all the energy scaling advantages of a flow battery.

Abstract: The invention features redox flow batteries and compound useful therein as negolytes or posolytes. The batteries and compounds are advantageous in terms of being useable in water solutions at neutral pH and have extremely high capacity retention. Suitable negolytes are diquaternized bipyridines, suitable posolytes are water-soluble ferrocene derivatives.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell based on a new chemistry for a flow battery for large scale, e.g., gridscale, electrical energy storage. Electrical energy is stored chemically in quinone molecules having multiple oxidation states, e.g., three or more. During charging of the battery, the quinone molecules at one electrode are oxidized by emitting electrons and protons, and the quinone molecules at the other electrode are reduced by accepting electrons and protons. These reactions are reversed to deliver electrical energy. The invention also provides additional high and low potential quinones that are useful in rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flow battery systems including a flow battery and an electrolyte rebalancing system. In accordance with certain embodiments, the electrolytes used in the systems of the present invention are aqueous, and in one embodiment, bromine species are used as redox-active species.

Abstract: In one aspect a method of fabricating an n-doped strained germanium (Ge) film is disclosed, which includes depositing a strained Ge film on an underlying substrate, implanting at least one electron-donating dopant in the Ge film, and exposing the implanted Ge film to one or more laser pulses having a pulsewidth in a range of about 1 ns to about 100 ms so as to generate a substantially crystalline strained Ge film. In some embodiments, the pulses can cause melting followed by substantial recrystallization of at least a portion of the implanted Ge film. In some embodiments, the resultant Ge film can have a thickness in a range of about 10 nm to about 1 microns.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of processing a semiconductor substrate is disclosed, which comprises incorporating at least one dopant in a semiconductor substrate so as to generate a doped polyphase surface layer on a light-trapping surface, and optically annealing the surface layer via exposure to a plurality of laser pulses having a pulsewidth in a range of about 1 nanosecond to about 50 nanoseconds so as to enhance crystallinity of said doped surface layer while maintaining high above-bandgap, and in many embodiments sub-bandgap optical absorptance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flow battery systems including a flow battery and an electrolyte rebalancing system. In accordance with certain embodiments, the electrolytes used in the systems of the present invention are aqueous, and in one embodiment, bromine species are used as redox-active species.

Abstract: In one aspect a method of fabricating an n-doped strained germanium (Ge) film is disclosed, which includes depositing a strained Ge film on an underlying substrate, implanting at least one electron-donating dopant in the Ge film, and exposing the implanted Ge film to one or more laser pulses having a pulsewidth in a range of about 1 ns to about 100 ms so as to generate a substantially crystalline strained Ge film. In some embodiments, the pulses can cause melting followed by substantial recrystallization of at least a portion of the implanted Ge film. In some embodiments, the resultant Ge film can have a thickness in a range of about 10 nm to about 1 microns.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell based on a new chemistry for a flow battery for large scale, e.g., gridscale, electrical energy storage. Electrical energy is stored chemically at an electrochemical electrode by the protonation of small organic molecules called quinones to hydroquinones. The proton is provided by a complementary electrochemical reaction at the other electrode. These reactions are reversed to deliver electrical energy. A flow battery based on this concept can operate as a closed system. The flow battery architecture has scaling advantages over solid electrode batteries for large scale energy storage.

Abstract: Provided herein are redox flow (e.g., rechargeable) batteries having a first aqueous electrolyte including a first type of redox active material (e.g., a quinone or alloxazine) and a second aqueous electrolyte including a second type of redox active material. The invention also features a method for storing electrical energy involving charging a battery including first and second electrodes and a method for providing electrical energy involving discharging a battery including the same.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of processing a semiconductor substrate is disclosed, which comprises incorporating at least one dopant in a semiconductor substrate so as to generate a doped polyphase surface layer on a light-trapping surface, and optically annealing the surface layer via exposure to a plurality of laser pulses having a pulsewidth in a range of about 1 nanosecond to about 50 nanoseconds so as to enhance crystallinity of said doped surface layer while maintaining high above-bandgap, and in many embodiments sub-bandgap optical absorptance.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell based on a new chemistry for a flow battery for large scale, e.g., gridscale, electrical energy storage. Electrical energy is stored chemically in quinone molecules having multiple oxidation states, e.g., three or more. During charging of the battery, the quinone molecules at one electrode are oxidized by emitting electrons and protons, and the quinone molecules at the other electrode are reduced by accepting electrons and protons. These reactions are reversed to deliver electrical energy. The invention also provides additional high and low potential quinones that are useful in rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell based on a new chemistry for a flow battery for large scale, e.g., gridscale, electrical energy storage. Electrical energy is stored chemically at an electrochemical electrode by the protonation of small organic molecules called quinones to hydroquinones. The proton is provided by a complementary electrochemical reaction at the other electrode. These reactions are reversed to deliver electrical energy. A flow battery based on this concept can operate as a closed system. The flow battery architecture has scaling advantages over solid electrode batteries for large scale energy storage.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell based on a new chemistry for a flow battery for large scale, e.g., grid-scale, electrical energy storage. Electrical energy is stored chemically at an electrochemical electrode by the protonation of small organic molecules called quinones to hydroquinones. The proton is provided by a complementary electrochemical reaction at the other electrode. These reactions are reversed to deliver electrical energy. A flow battery based on this concept can operate as a closed system. The flow battery architecture has scaling advantages over solid electrode batteries for large scale energy storage.