A Rechargeable Li‐CO₂ Battery with a Gel Polymer Electrolyte

Abstract

The utilization of CO in Li-CO batteries is attracting extensive attention. However, the poor rechargeability and low applied current density have remained the Achilles' heel of this energy device. The gel polymer electrolyte (GPE), which is composed of a polymer matrix filled with tetraglyme-based liquid electrolyte, was used to fabricate a rechargeable Li-CO battery with a carbon nanotube-based gas electrode. The discharge product of Li CO formed in the GPE-based Li-CO battery exhibits a particle-shaped morphology with poor crystallinity, which is different from the contiguous polymer-like and crystalline discharge product in conventional Li-CO battery using a liquid electrolyte. Accordingly, the GPE-based battery shows much improved electrochemical performance. The achieved cycle life (60 cycles) and rate capability (maximum applied current density of 500 mA g ) are much higher than most of previous reports, which points a new way to develop high-performance Li-CO batteries.

Progress and Future Perspectives on Li(Na)–CO2 Batteries

“…[79] The GPE is composed of a polymer matrix filled with a liquid electrolyte that has high ionic conductivity of liquid electrolyte. A GPE based on a (PVDF-HFP) matrix and plasticized with LiTFSI/TEGDME was investigated, and it exhibited a large operating window (up to 4.5 V) and acceptable ionic conductivity (0.5 mS cm −1 ).…”

Highly Efficient CO2 Utilization via Aqueous Zinc– or Aluminum–CO2 Systems for Hydrogen Gas Evolution and Electricity Production

“…As similarly observed in the Zn-CO 2 system, the oxidation I-V profiles of Al anode are also achieved reproducibly for all catalysts.F or the Al-CO 2 system, the maximum current densities achieved were 87.3, 305.3 and 532.1 mA cm À2 for FL-graphene,PBSCF,and Pt/C,respectively.Surprisingly,the highest electrochemical performance was obtained at amaximum power density of 125.4 mW cm À2 at 254.3 mA cm À2 for Pt/C catalyst, far superior to the best performance reported for the metal-CO 2 systems;t hat is,Z n-CO 2 cell based on CO 2 -HCOOH interconversion of 5.5 mW cm À2 at 11 mA cm À2 . [5j] Ford irect comparison, the maximum power density (P max )and the corresponding current density (J corr )of various metal-CO 2 cells in the literatures [5] were presented in Figure 3c.The performances of both Zn-or Al-CO 2 systems are clearly better than those of the conventional aprotic metal-CO 2 systems. [5a-i] Interestingly,i th as been observed that the performances of our systems are comparable to those of Zn-or Al-air cells which have been actively studied as promising representatives of metal-air batteries.…”

“…[3] Fori nstance,v arious chemical processes have been proposed to convert CO 2 into valueadded carbon compounds such as methanol, organic materials,a nd plastics. [5] Thee conomic feasibility of the proposed conversion processes,however,isstill inadequate because of low conversion efficiency. [5] Thee conomic feasibility of the proposed conversion processes,however,isstill inadequate because of low conversion efficiency.…”

“…[4] Also,t here have been af ew attempts to convert CO 2 into electrical energy using aprotic metal- CO 2 batteries. [5] Thee conomic feasibility of the proposed conversion processes,however,isstill inadequate because of low conversion efficiency. [6] Meanwhile,there is increasing global demand for hydrogen (H 2 ), aclean energy source,tobe used as apromising alternative energy source to finite fossil fuels.…”

“…[11] The cathodic reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), is closely affected by the pH of the aqueous solution [Eq. (5)]. Unlike typical water splitting working in as trongly acidic or alkaline electrolyte,t he HER in this study was proceeded in aq uasi-neutral environment (pH % 7) formed by dissolving CO 2 in KOHsolution or seawater.…”