A non-aqueous all-cobalt redox flow battery, with a cobalt complex 1,10-phenanthrolinecobalt(II) hexafluorophosphate ([Co(phen)(3)](PF6)(2)) as the active species, acetonitrile as the solvent and tetraethylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TEAPF(6)) as the supporting electrolyte, has been investigated. The electrochemical behaviour of oxidation and reduction reactions is measured using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The [Co(phen)(3)](2+) can be oxidized to [Co(phen)(3)](3+) and reduced to [Co(phen)(3)](+). A theoretical cell potential of 1.45 V for one-electron disproportionation reaction is obtained. The electrode reactions show quasi-reversible behaviour and are diffusion controlled. The diffusion coefficients of [Co(phen)(3)](2+) for oxidation and reduction reactions are calculated to be 1.35-2.34 x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1) and 2.50 -4.35 x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1), respectively. The effect of the electrode material is also examined by experiments. The CV curves of [Co(phen)(3)](2+) on the graphite working electrode show superior peak current and diffusivity to those measured on the glassy-carbon electrode. The charge discharge performance of the battery is accessed with an H-type glass cell. A coulomb efficiency of about 52% is achieved at 50% state-of-charge for an electrolyte containing of 0.01 M [Co(phen)(3)](2+) and 0.5 M TEAPF(6) in acetonitrile. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.