Tuning the reduction potential of quinones by controlling the effects of hydrogen bonding, protonation and proton-coupled electron transfer reactions

• Main Authors: Shi, Raymond Rong Sheng, Tessensohn, Malcolm Eugene, Lauw, Sherman Jun Liang, Foo, Nicolette A. B. Y., Webster, Richard David
• Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Science::Chemistry; Cell Membrane Potential; Chemical Interaction
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/150310
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

An all-organic cell comprising 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-napthoquinone and pyrano[3,2-f]chromene as electroactive elements exhibited a good combination of large cell voltage and stability of the reduced quinone upon the addition of diethyl malonate (a weak organic acid), as compared to the addition of trifluoroethanol (which led to a high cell potential but low stability via strong hydrogen bonding interactions) and the addition of trifluoroacetic acid (which led to a lower cell potential but high stability through proton transfer).