Cathode based on molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes for lithium-oxygen batteries.

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2016 · ACS Nano

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5b06672· OSTI ID:1253017

Asadi, Mohammad; Kumar, Bijandra; Liu, Cong; Phillips, Patrick; Yasaei, Poya; Behranginia, Amirhossein; Zapol, Peter; Klie, Robert F.; Curtiss, Larry A.; Salehi-Khojin, Amin

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O-2) batteries have been recognized as an emerging technology for energy storage systems owing to their high theoretical specific energy. One challenge is to find an electrolyte/cathode system that is efficient, stable, and cost-effective. We present such a system based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoflakes combined with an ionic liquid (IL) that work together as an effective cocatalyst for discharge and charge in a Li-O-2 battery. Cyclic voltammetry results show superior catalytic performance for this cocatalyst for both oxygen reduction and evolution reactions compared to Au and Pt catalysts. It also performs remarkably well in the Li-O-2 battery system with 85% round-trip efficiency and reversibility up to 50 cycles. Density functional calculations provide a mechanistic understanding of the MoS2 nanoflakes/IL system. cocatalyst reported in this work could open the way for exploiting the unique properties of ionic liquids in Li-air batteries in combination with nanostructured MoS2 as a cathode material.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science - Office of Basic Energy Sciences - Materials Sciences and Engineering Division; National Science Foundation (NSF); University of Illinois - Chicago; University of Wisconsin - Madison - Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1253017
• Journal Information: ACS Nano, Vol. 10, Issue 2; ISSN 1936-0851
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English