via Phys.org
Chemists from the University of Waterloo have successfully resolved two of the most challenging issues surrounding lithium-oxygen batteries, and in the process created a working battery with near 100 per cent coulombic efficiency.
The new work, which appears this week in Science, proves that four-electron conversion for lithium-oxygen electrochemistry is highly reversible. The team is the first to achieve four-electron conversion, which doubles the electron storage of lithium-oxygen, also known as lithium-air, batteries.
“There are limitations based on thermodynamics,” said Linda Nazar, Canada Research Chair of Solid State Energy Materials and senior author on the project. “Nevertheless, our work has addressed fundamental issues that people have been trying to resolve for a long time.”
The high theoretical-energy density of lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries and their relatively light weight have made them the Holy Grail of rechargeable battery systems. But long-standing issues with the battery’s chemistry and stability have kept them a purely academic curiosity.
Two of the more serious issues involve the intermediate of the cell chemistry (superoxide, LiO2) and the peroxide product (Li2O2) reacting with the porous carbon cathode, degrading the cell from within. In addition, the superoxide consumes the organic electrolyte in the process, which greatly limits the cycle life.
Nazar and her colleagues switched the organic electrolyte to a more stable inorganic molten salt and the porous carbon cathode to a bifunctional metal oxide catalyst. Then by operating the battery at 150 C, they found that the more stable product Li2O is formed instead of Li2O2. This results in a highly reversible Li-oxygen battery with coulombic efficiency approaching 100 per cent.
By storing O2 as lithium oxide (Li2O) instead of lithium peroxide (Li2O2), the battery not only maintained excellent charging characteristics, it achieved the maximum four-electron transfer in the system, thereby increasing the theoretical energy storage by 50 per cent.
“By swapping out the electrolyte and the electrode host and raising the temperature, we show the system performs remarkably well,” said Nazar, who is also a University Research Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Waterloo.
Learn more: Chemists make breakthrough on road to creating a rechargeable lithium-oxygen battery
The Latest on: Lithium-oxygen battery
via Google News
The Latest on: Lithium-oxygen battery
- The New Rules for Fire Safetyon August 3, 2022 at 11:00 pm
In this report on the new rules for fire safety, Consumer Reports shows you how to protect yourself and your family at a time when house fires are more deadly than ever.
- How to Invest in Hydrogen, an Alternative to Fossil Fuel Energyon August 3, 2022 at 7:31 pm
What Is Hydrogen? Hydrogen is touted as an alternative and clean energy source that can power electric vehicles, releasing nothing but water vapor and heat ...
- What Does a Car Battery Do and How Does It Work?on August 3, 2022 at 5:30 am
Traditional lead acid car batteries may get overlooked nowadays with the frenzy over lithium-ion EV batteries, but these little guys are invaluable marvels of engineering which have helped power ...
- Vestal Rotary to hold lithium-ion battery recycling eventon August 1, 2022 at 6:32 am
The Vestal Rotary is holding a recycling event for Lithium-ion batteries and consumer devices on Saturday, August 13th.
- A water-activated paper battery biodegrades once usedon August 1, 2022 at 3:25 am
A water-activated disposable paper battery is being developed by scientists at Switzerland's Empa institute that biodegrades once discarded. The Empa institute has developed a disposable paper battery ...
- A water-activated disposable paper battery dissolves once usedon August 1, 2022 at 3:25 am
A water-activated disposable paper battery is being developed by scientists at Switzerland's Empa institute that biodegrades once discarded. The Empa institute has developed a disposable paper battery ...
- Eye on Lithium: Ioneer strikes again with Toyota-Panasonic battery JV offtake dealon August 1, 2022 at 1:12 am
For the second week in a row, Ioneer (ASX:INR) has nabbed a US offtake deal for lithium carbonate from its Rhyolite Ridge project in Nevada.
- New residential lithium-ion battery from Chinaon August 1, 2022 at 12:15 am
Chinese manufacturer Bslbatt has unveiled an upgraded version of its residential battery. The device has a storage capacity ranging from 5.12 to 12.8 kWh and is reportedly able to provide steady ...
- Toyota-Panasonic Battery JV to Buy Lithium From Ioneer's Nevada Mineon July 31, 2022 at 4:08 pm
A joint battery venture of Toyota Motor Corp and Panasonic Corp will buy lithium from ioneer Ltd's Rhyolite Ridge mining project and use the metal to build electric vehicle batteries in the United ...
- Switch To Lithium-ion Battery: The Next Big Shift In the Indian Auto Spaceon July 29, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Even at a conservative 40 per cent EV penetration, we would need about 60 giga-watt-hour of lithium-ion battery. Overall Lithium battery requirement will be much bigger because of applications such as ...
via Bing News