Investigation of the Rechargeability of Li-O2 Batteries in Non-aqueous Electrolyte

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Power Sources, 196(13):5674-5678

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.02.060· OSTI ID:1012875

Xiao, Jie; Hu, Jian Z.; Wang, Deyu; Hu, Dehong; Xu, Wu; Graff, Gordon L.; Nie, Zimin; Liu, Jun; Zhang, Jiguang

In order to understand the nature of the limited cycle life and poor energy efficiency associated with the secondary Li-O¬2 batteries the discharge products of primary Li-O2 cells at different depth of discharge (DOD) are systematically analyzed in this work. It is revealed that if discharged to 2.0 V a small amount of Li2O2 coexist with Li2CO3 and RO-(C=O)-OLi) in alkyl carbonate-based electrolyte. Further discharging the air electrodes to below 2.0 V the amount of Li2CO3 and LiRCO3 increases significantly due to the severe electrolyte decomposition. There is no Li2O detected in this alkyl carbonate electrolyte regardless of DOD. It is also found that the alkyl carbonate based electrolyte begins to decompose at 4.0 V during charging under the combined influences from the high surface area carbon, the nickel metal current collector and the oxygen atmosphere. Accordingly the impedance of the Li-O2 cell continues to increase after each discharge and recharge process indicating a repeated plating of insoluble lithium salts on the carbon surface. Therefore the whole carbon electrode becomes completely insulated only after a few cycles and loses the function of providing active tri-phase regions for the Li-oxygen batteries.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1012875
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-75791; 44591
• Journal Information: Journal of Power Sources, 196(13):5674-5678, Journal Name: Journal of Power Sources, 196(13):5674-5678 Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 196; ISSN 0378-7753
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
BATTERY CHARGE STATE
BATTERY CHARGING
CARBON
CARBONYLS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
IMPEDANCE
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM OXIDES
Li-oxygen batteries
energy storage
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
NICKEL