The present invention relates to novel lignin-derived compounds and compositions comprising the same and their use as redox flow battery electrolytes. The invention further provides a method for preparing said compounds and compositions as well as a redox flow battery comprising said compounds and compositions. Additionally, an assembly for carrying out the inventive method is provided.

The present invention relates to novel lignin-derived compounds and compositions comprising the same and their use as redox flow battery electrolytes. The invention further provides a method for preparing said compounds and compositions as well as a redox flow battery comprising said compounds and compositions. Additionally, an assembly for carrying out the inventive method is provided.

The present invention relates to a compound having a general formula selected from the group consisting of formula 1a and 1b, wherein K represents an aromatic or heteroaromatic group in which at least one hydrogen atom may be substituted by a functional groups selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid group, a sulfuric acid group, an ammonium group and an aliphatic group; X is selected from the group consisting of a C—C-bond, O, S, SO.sub.2 and NR′, wherein R′ represents a hydrogen or an aliphatic or aromatic group; A represents a fluorinated or perfluorinated aromatic group; n represents an integer in the range from 2 to 6; m represents an integer in the range from 1 to 3. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising this compound, to a process for the preparation of a conductive layer using this composition, to a conductive layer comprising the compound according to the present invention, to electronic components comprising this conductive layer and to the use of the compound according to the present invention as an additive in a hole-injection layer of an OLED or in an organic solar cell.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a compound having a general formula selected from the group consisting of formula 1a and 1b, wherein K represents an aromatic or heteroaromatic group in which at least one hydrogen atom may be substituted by a functional groups selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid group, a sulfuric acid group, an ammonium group and an aliphatic group; X is selected from the group consisting of a C—C-bond, O, S, SO.sub.2 and NR′, wherein R′ represents a hydrogen or an aliphatic or aromatic group; A represents a fluorinated or perfluorinated aromatic group; n represents an integer in the range from 2 to 6; m represents an integer in the range from 1 to 3. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising this compound, to a process for the preparation of a conductive layer using this composition, to a conductive layer comprising the compound according to the present invention, to electronic components comprising this conductive layer and to the use of the compound according to the present invention as an additive in a hole-injection layer of an OLED or in an organic solar cell.

##STR00001##

A quinone derivative with a high redox potential that does not undergo Michael addition or proto-desulfonation. This molecule addresses the key issues faced with the positive side material of an aqueous all-organic flow battery. This new molecule is 2,5-dihydroxy-4,6-dimethylbenzene-1,3-disulfonic acid (or the disulfonate salt thereof). This quinone derivative offers good solubility, electrochemical reversibility, and robustness to charge/discharge cycling. Quinones with reduced crossover are also provided.

A quinone derivative with a high redox potential that does not undergo Michael addition or proto-desulfonation. This molecule addresses the key issues faced with the positive side material of an aqueous all-organic flow battery. This new molecule is 2,5-dihydroxy-4,6-dimethylbenzene-1,3-disulfonic acid (or the disulfonate salt thereof). This quinone derivative offers good solubility, electrochemical reversibility, and robustness to charge/discharge cycling. Quinones with reduced crossover are also provided.

The present invention relates to novel lignin-derived compounds and compositions comprising the same and their use as redox flow battery electrolytes. The invention further provides a method for preparing said compounds and compositions as well as a redox flow battery comprising said compounds and compositions. Additionally, an assembly for carrying out the inventive method is provided.

The present invention relates to novel lignin-derived compounds and compositions comprising the same and their use as redox flow battery electrolytes. The invention further provides a method for preparing said compounds and compositions as well as a redox flow battery comprising said compounds and compositions. Additionally, an assembly for carrying out the inventive method is provided.

The present invention relates to a method for producing one or more low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds. The method preferably comprises providing lignocellulosic material, subjecting the lignocellulosic material to a pulping process, separating pulp to provide a substantially pulp-free process stream comprising a modified lignin-derived component, isolating the modified lignin-derived component, subjecting the isolated modified lignin-derived component to a decomposition step comprising oxidative cracking (cracking and oxidizing) or reducing under the influence of a catalyst or electro-oxidation, and subjecting the resulting products to an isolation step, to provide a low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compound. Said compound may be further modified, e.g. by annulation. The inventive method preferably comprises further oxidizing said compound to a redox active compound. Additionally, the present invention relates to compounds obtainable by the inventive method and to an assembly for carrying out the inventive method. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a method for providing an existing pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant with said assembly.

The present invention relates to a method for producing one or more low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds. The method preferably comprises providing lignocellulosic material, subjecting the lignocellulosic material to a pulping process, separating pulp to provide a substantially pulp-free process stream comprising a modified lignin-derived component, isolating the modified lignin-derived component, subjecting the isolated modified lignin-derived component to a decomposition step comprising oxidative cracking (cracking and oxidizing) or reducing under the influence of a catalyst or electro-oxidation, and subjecting the resulting products to an isolation step, to provide a low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compound. Said compound may be further modified, e.g. by annulation. The inventive method preferably comprises further oxidizing said compound to a redox active compound. Additionally, the present invention relates to compounds obtainable by the inventive method and to an assembly for carrying out the inventive method. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a method for providing an existing pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant with said assembly.