QAZAQ GREEN.  Published in ACS Energy Letters, the study presents a flow cell battery powered by glucose and vitamin B2 (riboflavin). Mimicking the body’s process of breaking down glucose for energy, riboflavin shuttles electrons between the electrodes and the glucose electrolyte, generating an electric current from the sugar’s energy, American Chemical Society (ACS) reported.

“Riboflavin and glucose flow cells can generate electricity from naturally derived sources,” says lead author Jong-Hwa Shon. “Using non-toxic, inexpensive, and widely available components, this approach offers a promising path for safer and more affordable residential energy storage.”

Flow cell batteries store electrochemical energy in two circulating electrolytes. As chemical reactions occur, energy converts to electricity and back, with glucose serving as a low-cost, abundant energy source.

Current glucose fuel cell prototypes require noble metal catalysts, limiting power output and scalability. Riboflavin has proven a stable and effective alternative, enabling more accessible flow battery designs.

In tests with potassium ferricyanide, the battery achieved power density comparable to vanadium flow batteries. The oxygen-based version was slower but still outperformed previous glucose prototypes. Researchers aim to improve power density by protecting riboflavin from light-induced degradation and refining cell engineering.

The project received funding from the Energy Storage Research Alliance, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Innovation Hub, and the Energy Storage Materials Initiative at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.