Canadian scientists have announced the development of an organic molecule that could revolutionize renewable energy storage. The team from the University of Montreal and Concordia University created a compound called AzoBiPy, designed for use in aqueous organic flow batteries—a safer, non-flammable alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
AzoBiPy's key feature is its ability to transfer two electrons simultaneously during reversible reactions. This is unusual for organic electrolytes, which typically handle only one electron at a time. As a result, the new molecule nearly doubles energy capacity, achieving a volumetric capacity of 47.1 Ah/L with high water solubility.
Stability is equally impressive. Over 70 days of testing, including 192 charge-discharge cycles, AzoBiPy retained about 99% of its original capacity, losing just 0.02% per day. For organic storage systems, this is a near-record performance, paving the way for seasonal energy storage—like saving summer solar power for winter heating.
Researchers demonstrated the technology's practical viability with a live prototype: a flow battery using a few spoonfuls of electrolyte powered a string of Christmas lights for eight hours. Unlike commercial vanadium-based solutions, AzoBiPy is made from readily available elements: carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen. The team is now exploring bio-versions from wood and food waste and has filed patent applications, aiming to deploy the technology within the next decade.