A nano-structured RuO₂/NiO cathode enables the operation of non-aqueous lithium–air batteries in ambient air

Abstract

A cathode composed of RuO2 nanoparticle-decorated NiO nanosheets not only catalyzes the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, but also promotes the decomposition of the side products (LiOH and Li2CO3), enabling a non-aqueous lithium–air battery to be truly operated in ambient air.

Stabilizing Lithium into Cross‐Stacked Nanotube Sheets with an Ultra‐High Specific Capacity for Lithium Oxygen Batteries

“…[1] Lithium-oxygen (Li-O 2 )b atteries,h aving ahigh theoretical energy density of 3505 Wh kg À1 ,are widely recognized as promising candidates. [4][5][6] However,t he problematic lithium metal anode holds back the pace of realization of practical Li-O 2 batteries (Figure 1a). [4][5][6] However,t he problematic lithium metal anode holds back the pace of realization of practical Li-O 2 batteries (Figure 1a).…”

Paramecium‐Like Iron Oxide Nanotubes as a Cost‐Efficient Catalyst for Nonaqueous Lithium‐Oxygen Batteries

“…At 200–1000 mA g −1 , the discharge overpotential increases from 0.18 to 0.22 V and the specific capacity decreases from 8050 to 3940 mAh g −1 ; however, the charge overpotential increases from 0.83 to 0.95 V, which indicates that the battery with the FNT/SP cathode exhibits a good rate capability. In addition, the charge overpotential is much lower than that of previous work (Table S1) and is even comparable to that of some noble‐metal‐based catalysts . The excellent catalytic activities for the OER and ORR of the Li–O 2 batteries with the FNT/SP cathode arise mainly from the following advantages of the paramecium‐like FNTs catalyst: 1) the nanowires coated on the surface can extend the electrode–electrolyte area to enhance the Li ion delivery; 2) the open morphology of the FNTs can offer short diffusion channels for oxygen and electrolyte in the electrode to ensure the fast and uniform distribution of oxygen and electrolyte (Figure ); 3) the electron transport can be facilitated by the tubular structure and the nanowires on the surface.…”

“…The high energy density arises from two factors: the use of the lightest metal Li as the anode and the use of abundant atmospheric O 2 as the cathode‐active reactant . The key electrochemical reactions during the discharge and charge processes in a nonaqueous Li–O 2 battery system are the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which can be depicted as 2 Li + +O 2 +2 e − ⇄Li 2 O 2 , E °=2.96 V versus Li/Li + . However, during discharge, the insoluble solid product lithium peroxide (Li 2 O 2 ) can fill the porous cathode and block the electron, oxygen, and Li + pathways to lead to an increased discharge capacity and, eventually, to the termination of the discharge process at quite a low specific capacity.…”

Recent Applications of 2D Inorganic Nanosheets for Emerging Energy Storage System

“…Like heteroatom‐doped graphene, various 2D inorganic nanosheets have been investigated as electrodes for metal‐air batteries. Tan et al . reported the excellent cathode functionality of RuO 2 nanoparticles‐decorated NiO nanosheets for a non‐aqueous lithium‐air battery.…”

“…Ta ne tal. [162] reported the excellent cathode functionality of RuO 2 nanoparticles-decorated NiO nanosheets for an on-aqueous lithium-air battery. In ap ure oxygen atmosphere,t his material exhibited the capacitance of 3240 mAh g À1 .W hen operated in ambient air with the relative humidity of 60 AE 5%,t he synthesized material still deliveredalarge capacity of 3465 mAh g À1 ,w hich was attributedt ot he promoted decomposition of side products by combination of RuO 2 nanoparticles and NiO nanosheet.…”