skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Attention:The NSF Public Access Repository (NSF-PAR) system and access will be unavailable from 7:00 AM ET to 7:30 AM ET on Friday, April 24 due to maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Explore Research Products in the PAR
It may take a few hours for recently added research products to appear in PAR search results.


Title: A lithium–oxygen battery with a long cycle life in an air-like atmosphere
Lithium–air batteries are considered to be a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries for transportation applications, owing to their high theoretical specific energy1. So far, however, such systems have been largely restricted to pure oxygen environments (lithium–oxygen batteries) and have a limited cycle life owing to side reactions involving the cathode, anode and electrolyte2,3,4,5. In the presence of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapour, these side reactions can become even more complex6,7,8,9,10,11. Moreover, because of the need to store oxygen, the volumetric energy densities of lithium–oxygen systems may be too small for practical applications12. Here we report a system comprising a lithium carbonate-based protected anode, a molybdenum disulfide cathode2 and an ionic liquid/dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte that operates as a lithium–air battery in a simulated air atmosphere with a long cycle life of up to 700 cycles. We perform computational studies to provide insight into the operation of the system in this environment. This demonstration of a lithium–oxygen battery with a long cycle life in an air-like atmosphere is an important step towards the development of this field beyond lithium-ion technology, with a possibility to obtain much higher specific energy densities than for conventional lithium-ion batteries.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1729420
PAR ID:
10195329
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Nature
ISSN:
1476-4687
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. (, ACS applied materials interfaces)
    null (Ed.)
    Redox mediators (RMs) are solution-based additives that have been extensively used to reduce the charge potential and increase the energy efficiency of Li–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries. However, in the presence of RMs, achieving a long cycle-life operation of Li–O2 batteries at a high current rate is still a major challenge. In this study, we discover a novel synergy among InX3 (X = I and Br) bifunctional RMs, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoflakes as the air electrode, dimethyl sulfoxide/ionic liquid hybrid electrolyte, and LiTFSI as a salt to achieve long cycle-life operations of Li–O2 batteries in a dry air environment at high charge–discharge rates. Our results indicate that batteries with InI3 operate up to 450 cycles with a current density of 0.5 A g–1 and 217 cycles with a current density of 1 A g–1 at a fixed capacity of 1 A h g–1. Batteries with InBr3 operate up to 600 cycles with a current density of 1 A g–1. These batteries can also operate at a higher charge rate of 2 A g–1 up to 200 cycles (for InBr3) and 160 cycles (for InI3). Our experimental and computational results reveal that while X3– is the source of the redox mediator, LiX at the MoS2 cathode, In3+ reacts on the lithium anode side to form a protective layer on the surface, thus acting as an effective bifunctional RM in a dry air environment. This evidence for a simultaneous improvement in the current rates and cycle life of a battery in a dry air atmosphere opens a new direction for research for advanced energy storage systems. 
    more » « less
  2. (, Small)
    null (Ed.)
    Lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries possess the highest theoretical energy density (3500 Wh kg−1), which makes them attractive candidates for modern electronics and transportation applications. In this work, an inexpensive, flexible, and wearable Li–O2 battery based on the bifunctional redox mediator of InBr3, MoS2 cathode catalyst, and Fomblin-based oxygen permeable membrane that enable long-cycle-life operation of the battery in pure oxygen, dry air, and ambient air is designed, fabricated, and tested. The battery operates in ambient air with an open system air-breathing architecture and exhibits excellent cycling up to 240 at the high current density of 1 A g−1 with a relative humidity of 75%. The electrochemical performance of the battery including deep-discharge capacity, and rate capability remains almost identical after 1000 cycle in a bending fatigue test. This finding opens a new direction for utilizing high performance Li–O2 batteries for applications in the field of flexible and wearable electronics. 
    more » « less
  3. ; ; ; ; ; (, Materials Advances)
    The all-solid-state battery is a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries that have reached the limit of their technological capabilities. The next-generation lithium-ion batteries are expected to be eco-friendly, long-lasting, and safe while demonstrating high energy density and providing ultrafast charging. These much-needed properties require significant efforts to uncover and utilize the chemical, morphological, and electrochemical properties of solid-state electrolytes and cathode nanocomposites. Here we report solid-state electrochemical cells based on lithium oxyhalide electrolyte that is produced by melt-casting. This method results in enhanced cathode/electrolyte interfaces that allow exceptionally high charging rates (>4000C) while maintaining the electrochemical stability of solid-state electrolyte in the presence of lithium metal anode and lithium iron phosphate-based cathode. The cells exhibit long cycle life (>1800 cycles at 100 °C) and offer a promising route to the next-generation all-solid-state battery technology. 
    more » « less
  4. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; et al (, Advanced Energy Materials)
    Abstract Sodium–oxygen (Na–O2) batteries are considered a promising energy storage alternative to current state‐of‐the‐art technologies owing to their high theoretical energy density, along with the natural abundance and low price of Na metal. The chemistry of these batteries depends on sodium superoxide (NaO2) or peroxide (Na2O2) being formed/decomposed. Most Na–O2batteries form NaO2, but reversibility is usually quite limited due to side reactions at interfaces. By using new materials, including a highly active catalyst based on vanadium phosphide (VP) nanoparticles, an ether/ionic liquid‐based electrolyte, and an effective sodium bromide (NaBr) anode protection layer, the sources of interface reactivity can be reduced to achieve a Na–O2battery cell that is rechargeable for 1070 cycles with a high energy efficiency of more than 83%. Density functional theory calculations, along with experimental characterization confirm the three factors leading to the long cycle life, including the effectiveness of the NaBr protective layer on the anode, a tetraglyme/EMIM‐BF4based electrolyte that prevents oxidation of the VP cathode catalyst surface, and the EMIM‐BF4ionic liquid aiding in avoiding electrolyte decomposition on NaO2. 
    more » « less
  5. ; ; (, Batteries)
    High-entropy materials (HEMs) constitute a revolutionary class of materials that have garnered significant attention in the field of materials science, exhibiting extraordinary properties in the realm of energy storage. These equimolar multielemental compounds have demonstrated increased charge capacities, enhanced ionic conductivities, and a prolonged cycle life, attributed to their structural stability. In the anode, transitioning from the traditional graphite (372 mAh g−1) to an HEM anode can increase capacity and enhance cycling stability. For cathodes, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) can be replaced with new cathodes made from HEMs, leading to greater energy storage. HEMs play a significant role in electrolytes, where they can be utilized as solid electrolytes, such as in ceramics and polymers, or as new high-entropy liquid electrolytes, resulting in longer cycling life, higher ionic conductivities, and stability over wide temperature ranges. The incorporation of HEMs in metal–air batteries offers methods to mitigate the formation of unwanted byproducts, such as Zn(OH)4 and Li2CO3, when used with atmospheric air, resulting in improved cycling life and electrochemical stability. This review examines the basic characteristics of HEMs, with a focus on the various applications of HEMs for use as different components in lithium-ion batteries. The electrochemical performance of these materials is examined, highlighting improvements such as specific capacity, stability, and a longer cycle life. The utilization of HEMs in new anodes, cathodes, separators, and electrolytes offers a promising path towards future energy storage solutions with higher energy densities, improved safety, and a longer cycling life. 
    more » « less
  • Citation Formats
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago
  • BibTeX
  • Text Encoded Conversion
  • XML
  • Save / Share this Record
  • Send to Email