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Catalytic Disproportionation of the Superoxide Intermediate from Electrochemical O 2 Reduction in Nonaqueous Electrolytes
Author(s) -
Zheng Dong,
Wang Qiang,
Lee HungSui,
Yang XiaoQing,
Qu Deyang
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201204506
Subject(s) - disproportionation , chemistry , catalysis , inorganic chemistry , electrochemistry , electrolyte , superoxide , propylene carbonate , deoxygenation , electrode , organic chemistry , enzyme
Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TPFPB) was found to be an efficient catalyst for rapid superoxide (O 2 − ) disproportionation. The kinetics for the catalytic disproportionation reaction is much faster than the reaction between O 2 − and propylene carbonate. Therefore, the negative impact of the reaction between the electrolyte and O 2 − produced by the O 2 reduction is minimized. The cathodic current for O 2 reduction can be doubled in the presence of TPFPB. The high reduction current resulted from the pseudo two‐electron O 2 ‐reduction reaction due to the replenishment of O 2 at the electrode surface. This discovery could lead to a new avenue for the development of high‐capacity, high‐rate, rechargeable Li–air batteries.