Open AccessLiO2: Cryosynthesis and Chemical/Electrochemical Reactivities
Author(s) -
Xinmin Zhang,
Limin Guo,
Linfeng Gan,
Yantao Zhang,
Jing Wang,
Lee Johnson,
Peter G. Bruce,
Zhangquan Peng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the journal of physical chemistry letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.563
H-Index - 203
ISSN - 1948-7185
DOI - 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b00680
Subject(s) - electrolyte , battery (electricity) , reactivity (psychology) , electrochemistry , chemistry , cathode , oxygen , inorganic chemistry , redox , electrode , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , medicine , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , pathology , engineering , alternative medicine
The reduction of O 2 to solid Li 2 O 2 , via the intermediates O 2 - and LiO 2 , is the desired discharge reaction at the positive electrode of the aprotic Li-O 2 batteries. In practice, a plethora of byproducts are identified together with Li 2 O 2 and have been assigned to the side reactions between the reduced oxygen species (O 2 - , LiO 2 , and Li 2 O 2 ) and the battery components (the cathode and electrolyte). Understanding the reactivity of these reduced oxygen species is critical for the development of stable battery components and thus high cycle life. O 2 - and Li 2 O 2 are readily available, and their reactivities have been studied in depth both experimentally and theoretically. However, little is known about LiO 2 , which readily decomposes to Li 2 O 2 and is thus unavailable under usual laboratory conditions. Here we report the synthesis and reactivity of LiO 2 in liquid NH 3 at cryogenic temperatures and conclude that LiO 2 is the most reactive oxygen species in Li-O 2 batteries.