# Collaborative Research: A Physical Organic Chemistry Approach to the Development and Understanding of Redox Flow Batteries and Metal-Air Battery Redox Mediators

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · University of West Florida (FL) · $69,600

## Abstract

In this project, funded by the Chemical Mechanism, Function, and Properties Program of the Chemistry Division, Professors F. Dean Toste of the Department of Chemistry and Bryan D. McCloskey of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at University of California, Berkeley, alongside Professor Jacob S. Tracy of the Department of Chemistry at the University of West Florida, are developing strategies for creating, understanding, and optimizing new redox-active organic molecules to enable next-generation redox-flow and metal-air energy storage systems. The impacts of this work cover long duration energy storage systems, which enable overall electrical grid stability when incorporated alongside intermittent electricity generation, and ultrahigh capacity battery systems which aid heavy duty transportation applications. The project takes an interdisciplinary approach to the challenges inherent to these complex systems, combining synthetic organic and physical organic chemistry with electrochemistry and chemical engineering. Further, this project is the collaborative effort of a graduate-focused institution and an undergraduate-only chemistry department that addresses scientific training and education with impacts on students from K-12 all the way to the graduate level.

Redox-active organic small molecules have an immense level of structural tunability to achieve various reduction potentials, stabilities to oxidation/reduction, and reactivities in solution and across

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2452705
- **Awardee organization:** University of West Florida (FL)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** WHXVFCB1F1E3
- **PI:** Jacob S Tracy
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** Energy Storage or Transmission
- **Estimated total:** $69,600
- **Funds obligated:** $69,600
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2452705

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2452705, Collaborative Research: A Physical Organic Chemistry Approach to the Development and Understanding of Redox Flow Batteries and Metal-Air Battery Redox Mediators. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2452705. Licensed CC0.

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