%0 Journal Article %A Méndez, Manuel A. %A Peljo, Pekka %A Scanlon, Micheál D. %A Vrubel, Heron %A Girault, Hubert H. %D 2014 %T Photo-Ionic Cells: Two Solutions to Store Solar Energy and Generate Electricity on Demand %U https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Photo_Ionic_Cells_Two_Solutions_to_Store_Solar_Energy_and_Generate_Electricity_on_Demand/2269864 %R 10.1021/jp500427t.s001 %2 https://acs.figshare.com/ndownloader/files/3905881 %K electricity %K Store Solar Energy %K leucothionine %K redox pair %K electrochemical flow cell %K Co %K solution %K EDTA %K thionine %K energy conversion concept %K phase %X A solar energy conversion concept based on the photoinduced separation of a pair of redox species in a biphasic liquid cell is presented. The redox pair is subsequently discharged in an electrochemical flow cell to generate electricity. To illustrate this generic concept, we have revisited the thionine/cobalt EDTA system where, upon light excitation, the excited thionine dye is quenched in the aqueous solution by the [Co­(II)­EDTA]2– complex to form both [Co­(III)­EDTA] and reduced thionine, namely leucothionine, that partitions to the organic phase. As a result, solar energy is converted to a redox pair, leucothionine/[Co­(III)­EDTA]. The two immiscible liquid phases are separated, and the redox energy is stored in the respective electrolyte solutions. These two solutions can then be electrochemically discharged in a flow cell to generate electricity on demand. The electrode reactions involved are the reoxidation of leucothionine to thionine in the organic solvent and the reduction of the Co­(III) complex in water. %I ACS Publications