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Enhanced Cyclability of Lithium–Oxygen Batteries with Electrodes Protected by Surface Films Induced via In Situ Electrochemical Process
Author(s) -
Liu Bin,
Xu Wu,
Tao Jinhui,
Yan Pengfei,
Zheng Jianming,
Engelhard Mark H.,
Lu Dongping,
Wang Chongmin,
Zhang JiGuang
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201702340
Subject(s) - materials science , anode , electrochemistry , electrolyte , electrode , lithium (medication) , battery (electricity) , carbon fibers , oxygen , chemical engineering , inert , inert gas , oxygen evolution , carbon nanotube , metal , nanotechnology , composite material , metallurgy , composite number , chemistry , organic chemistry , medicine , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , endocrinology
Although the rechargeable lithium–oxygen (Li–O 2 ) batteries have extremely high theoretical specific energy, the practical application of these batteries is still limited by the instability of their carbon‐based air‐electrode, Li metal anode, and electrodes, toward reduced oxygen species. Here a simple one‐step in situ electrochemical precharging strategy is demonstrated to generate thin protective films on both carbon nanotubes (CNTs), air‐electrodes and Li metal anodes simultaneously under an inert atmosphere. Li–O 2 cells after such pretreatment demonstrate significantly extended cycle life of 110 and 180 cycles under the capacity‐limited protocol of 1000 mA h g −1 and 500 mA h g −1 , respectively, which is far more than those without pretreatment. The thin‐films formed from decomposition of electrolyte during in situ electrochemical precharging processes in an inert environment, can protect both CNTs air‐electrode and Li metal anode prior to conventional Li–O 2 discharge/charge cycling, where reactive reduced oxygen species are formed. This work provides a new approach for protection of carbon‐based air‐electrodes and Li metal anodes in practical Li–O 2 batteries, and may also be applied to other battery systems.