Increasing round trip efficiency of hybrid Li-air battery with bifunctional catalysts

Journal Article · Tue Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Electrochimica Acta

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2013.04.027· OSTI ID:1211038

Huang, K; Li, YF; Xing, YC

Previously it was shown that Pt as cathode catalyst ha's a large overpotential during charge in rechargeable hybrid Li-air battery with sulfuric acid catholyte. This article demonstrates that a bifunctional catalyst composed of Pt and IrO2 supported on carbon nanotubes can address this problem. The specially designed and synthesized bifunctional catalyst showed significant overpotential reduction and achieved a round trip energy efficiency of 81% after 10 cycles, higher than many achieved in aprotic Li-O-2 batteries. The hybrid Li-air battery was discharged and recharged for 20 cycles at 0.2 mA/cm(2), showing a fairly stable cell performance. A specific capacity of 306 mAh/g and a specific energy of 1110 Wh/kg were obtained for the hybrid Li-air battery in terms of acid weight. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
• DOE Contract Number: DEAR0000066
• OSTI ID: 1211038
• Journal Information: Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 103; ISSN 0013-4686
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English