DMSO-Li2O2 Interface in the Rechargeable Li-O2 Battery Cathode: Theoretical and Experimental Perspectives on Stability

Promoted Reaction Reversibility by Dual-Effect 15-Crown-5 Ether Additive for High-Performance Li-O2 Batteries

The practical application of lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) with ultrahigh theoretical energy density faces the problems of poor kinetics and deficient reversibility. The electrolyte is of vital significance to the electrochemical stability and reaction pathway of LOBs due to the formation of soluble products. Here, a 15-crown-5 ether (15C5) is employed to regulate the solvation structure of Li+ and manipulate the reaction mechanism through regulating the binding ability toward Li+. The promoted dissociation of LiNO3 by 15C5 increases the catalytical active anions in the electrolyte and stabilizes the Li-containing reduced oxygen species to promote the solution pathway of discharge product growth. Besides, 15C5 also facilitates the kinetics of the electrochemical decomposition of Li2O2 and prolongs the cycle life to 178 cycles. This work inspires a novel approach to improve the battery performance through electrolyte component design.

Effect of alkali-metal cation on oxygen adsorption at Pt single-crystal electrodes in non-aqueous electrolytes

The effect of Group 1 alkali-metal cations (Na+, K+, and Cs+) on the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER) using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-based electrolytes was investigated. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) utilising different Pt-electrode surfaces (polycrystalline Pt, Pt(111) and Pt(100)) was undertaken to investigate the influence of surface structure upon the ORR and OER. For K+ and Cs+, negligible variation in the CV response (in contrast to Na+) was observed using Pt(111), Pt(100) and Pt(poly) electrodes, consistent with a weak surface-metal/superoxide complex interaction. Indeed, changes in the half-wave potentials (E1/2) and relative intensities of the redox peaks corresponding to superoxy (O2-) and peroxy (O22-) ion formation were consistent with a solution-mediated mechanism for larger cations, such as Cs+. Support for this finding was obtained via in situ shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS). During the ORR and in the presence of Cs+, O2- and weakly adsorbed caesium superoxide (CsO2) species were detected. Because DMSO was found to strongly interact with the surface at potentials associated with the ORR, CsO2 was readily displaced at more negative potentials via increased solvent adsorption at the surface. This finding highlights the important impact of the solvent during ORR/OER reactions.

Recent Advances in Rechargeable Metal-CO2 Batteries with Nonaqueous Electrolytes

This review article discusses the recent advances in rechargeable metal-CO2 batteries (MCBs), which include the Li, Na, K, Mg, and Al-based rechargeable CO2 batteries, mainly with nonaqueous electrolytes. MCBs capture CO2 during discharge by the CO2 reduction reaction and release it during charging by the CO2 evolution reaction. MCBs are recognized as one of the most sophisticated artificial modes for CO2 fixation by electrical energy generation. However, extensive research and substantial developments are required before MCBs appear as reliable, sustainable, and safe energy storage systems. The rechargeable MCBs suffer from the hindrances like huge charging-discharging overpotential and poor cyclability due to the incomplete decomposition and piling of the insulating and chemically stable compounds, mainly carbonates. Efficient cathode catalysts and a suitable architectural design of the cathode catalysts are essential to address this issue. Besides, electrolytes also play a vital role in safety, ionic transportation, stable solid-electrolyte interphase formation, gas dissolution, leakage, corrosion, operational voltage window, etc. The highly electrochemically active metals like Li, Na, and K anodes severely suffer from parasitic reactions and dendrite formation. Recent research works on the aforementioned secondary MCBs have been categorically reviewed here, portraying the latest findings on the key aspects governing secondary MCB performances.

Lithium Salt Dissociation Promoted by 18-Crown-6 Ether Additive toward Dilute Electrolytes for High Performance Lithium Oxygen Batteries

Lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) are well known for their high energy density. However, their reversibility and rate performance are challenged due to the sluggish oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER) kinetics, serious side reactions and uncontrollable Li dendrite growth. The electrolyte plays a key role in transport of Li⁺ and reactive oxygen species in LOBs. Here, we tailored a dilute electrolyte by screening suitable crown ether additives to promote lithium salt dissociation and Li⁺ solvation through electrostatic interaction. The electrolyte containing 100 mM 18-crown-6 ether (100-18C6) exhibits enhanced electrochemical stability and triggers a solution-mediated Li₂ O₂ growth pathway in LOBs, showing high discharge capacity of 10 828.8 mAh g_carbon ^-1 . Moreover, optimized electrode/electrolyte interfaces promote ORR/OER kinetics on cathode and achieve dendrite-free Li anode, which enhances the cycle life. This work casts new lights on the design of low-cost dilute electrolytes for high performance LOBs.

Operando Synchrotron XRD of Bromide Mediated Li-O2 Battery

Li-O₂ battery technology offers large theoretical energy density, considered a promising alternative energy storage technology for a variety of applications. One of the main advances made in recent years is the use of soluble catalysts, known as redox mediators (RM), decreasing the charge overpotential and improving cyclability. Despite its potential, much is still unknown regarding its dynamic, especially over higher loading electrodes, where mass transport may be an issue and the interplay with common impurities in the electrolyte, like residual water. Here we perform for the first time an operando XRD characterization of a DMSO-based LiBr mediated Li-O₂ battery with a high loading electrode based on CNTs aiming to reveal these dynamics and track chemical changes in the electrode. Our results show that, depending on the electrode architecture, the system's issue can move from catalytic to a mass transfer. We also assess the effect of residual water in the system to better understand the reaction routes. As a result, we observed that with DMSO, the system is even more sensitive to water contamination compared to glyme-based studies reported in the literature. Despite the activity of LiBr on the Li-peroxide oxidation and its contribution to cyclability, with the system and electrode configuration used in this study, we verified that a mass transfer limitation caused a cell "sudden death" caused by clogging after cycling.

The Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Ca2+ -Containing DMSO: Reaction Mechanism, Electrode Surface Characterization, and Redox Mediation*

In this study the fundamental understanding of the underlying reactions of a possible Ca-O2 battery using a DMSO-based electrolyte was strengthened. Employing the rotating ring disc electrode, a transition from a mixed process of O2 - and O2 2- formation to an exclusive O2 - formation at gold electrodes is observed. It is shown that in this system Ca-superoxide and Ca-peroxide are formed as soluble species. However, there is a strongly adsorbed layer of products of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) s on the electrode surface, which is blocking the electrode. Surprisingly the blockade is only a partial blockade for the formation of peroxide while the formation of superoxide is maintained. During an anodic sweep, the ORR product layer is stripped from the electrode surface. With X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) the deposited ORR products were shown to be Ca(O2 )2 , CaO2 , and CaO as well as side-reaction products such as CO3 2- and other oxygen-containing carbon species. It is shown that the strongly attached layer on the electrocatalyst, that was partially blocking the electrode, could be adsorbed CaO. The disproportionation reaction of O2 - in presence of Ca2+ was demonstrated via mass spectrometry. Finally, the ORR mediated by 2,5-di-tert-1,4-benzoquinone (DBBQ) was investigated by differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) and XPS. Similar products as without DBBQ are deposited on the electrode surface. The analysis of the DEMS experiments shows that DBBQ- reduces O2 to O2 - and O2 2- , whereas in the presence of DBBQ2- O2 2- is formed. The mechanism of the ORR with and without DBBQ is discussed.

Hierarchical Mesoporous/Macroporous Co-Doped NiO Nanosheet Arrays as Free-Standing Electrode Materials for Rechargeable Li-O2 Batteries

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O₂) batteries have been widely recognized as appealing power systems for their extremely high energy density versus common Li-ion batteries. However, there are still lots of issues that need to be addressed toward the practical application. Here, free-standing Co-doped NiO three-dimensional nanosheets were prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis method and directly employed as the air-breathing cathode of the Li-O₂ battery. The morphological phenomenon and electrochemical performance of the as-prepared cathode material were characterized by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. The Co-doped NiO electrode delivered a maximum discharge capacity of around 12 857 mA h g^-1 with a low overpotential (0.82 V) at 200 mA g^-1. Under upper-limit specific capacities of 500 mA h g^-1 at 400 mA g^-1, the Li-O₂ batteries exhibited a long cycle life of 165 cycles. Compared with the undoped NiO electrode, the Li-O₂ battery based on the Co-doped NiO cathode showed significantly higher oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction activities. This superior electrochemical performance is because of the partial substitution of Ni²⁺ in the NiO matrix by Co²⁺ to improve the p-type electronic conductivity of NiO. In addition, the morphology and specific surface area of NiO are affected by Co doping, which can expand the electrode-electrolyte contact area and lead to sufficient space for Li₂O₂ deposition. This approach harnesses the great potential of Co-doped NiO nanosheets for practical applications as advanced electrodes for rechargeable Li-O₂ batteries.

Multistep and multiscale electron transfer and localization dynamics at a model electrolyte/metal interface

The lifetime, coupling, and localization dynamics of electronic states in molecular films near metal electrodes fundamentally determine their propensity to act as precursors or reactants in chemical reactions, crucial for a detailed understanding of charge transport and degradation mechanisms in batteries. In the current study, we investigate the formation dynamics of small polarons and their role as intermediate electronic states in thin films of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on Cu(111) using time- and angle-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy. Upon photoexcitation, a delocalized DMSO electronic state is initially populated two monolayers from the Cu surface, becoming a small polaron on a 200 fs time scale, consistent with localization due to vibrational dynamics of the DMSO film. The small polaron is a precursor state for an extremely long-lived and weakly coupled multilayer electronic state, with a lifetime of several seconds, thirteen orders of magnitude longer than the small polaron. Although the small polaron in DMSO has a lifetime of 140 fs, its role as a precursor state for long-lived electronic states could make it an important intermediate in multistep battery reactivity.

Single and polycrystalline CeO2 nanorods as oxygen-electrode materials for lithium-oxygen batteries

Single and polycrystalline CeO₂ nanorods (NRs) were prepared for application as oxygen-electrode electrocatalysts for lithium-oxygen batteries. The CeO₂ NRs were prepared via a time-controlled hydrothermal process. At a high current rate of 1000 mA g^-1, the single crystalline CeO₂ NRs exhibited a higher reversibility and a lower voltage gap than polycrystalline CeO₂ NRs. We compared the oxygen reduction and evolution kinetics of single and polycrystalline CeO₂ NRs using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Bifunctional Role of LiNO3 in Li-O2 Batteries: Deconvoluting Surface and Catalytic Effects

Out of the many challenges in the realization of lithium-O₂ batteries (LOB), the major is to deal with the instability of the electrolyte and the cathode interface under the stringent environment of both oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Lithium nitrate was recently proposed as a promising salt for LOB because of its capability to stabilize the lithium anode by the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase, its low level of dissociation in aprotic solvents, and its catalytic effect toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in rechargeable LOB. Nevertheless, a deeper understanding of the influence of nitrate on the stability and electrochemical response of the cathode in LOB is yet to be realized. Additionally, it is well accepted that carbon instability toward oxidation is a major reason for early failure of LOB cells; therefore, it is essential to investigate the effect of electrolyte components on this side of the battery. In the present work, we show that nitrate leads to interfacial changes, which result in the formation of a surface protection domain on the carbon scaffold of LOB cathode, which helps in suppressing the oxidative damage of the carbon. This effect is conjugated with an additional electrocatalytic effect of the nitrate ion on the OER. Using in operando online electrochemical mass spectroscopy, we herein deconvolute these two positive effects and show how they are dependent on nitrate concentration and the potential of cell operation. We show that a low amount of nitrate can exhibit the catalytic behavior; however, in order to harness its ability to suppress the oxidative damage and passivate the carbon surface, an excess of LiNO₃ is required.

Formation of Nanosized Defective Lithium Peroxides through Si-Coated Carbon Nanotube Cathodes for High Energy Efficiency Li-O2 Batteries

The formation and decomposition of lithium peroxides (Li₂O₂) during cycling is the key process for the reversible operation of lithium-oxygen batteries. The manipulation of such products from the large toroidal particles about hundreds of nanometers to the ones in the scale of tens of nanometers can improve the energy efficiency and the cycle life of the batteries. In this work, we carry out an in situ morphology tuning of Li₂O₂ by virtue of the surface properties of the n-type Si-modified aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) cathodes. With the introduction of an n-type Si coating layer on the CNT surface, the morphology of Li₂O₂ formed by discharge changes from large toroidal particles (∼300 nm) deposited on the pristine CNT cathodes to nanoparticles (10-20 nm) with poor crystallinity and plenty of lithium vacancies. Beneficial from such changes, the charge overpotential dramatically decreases to 0.55 V, with the charge plateau lying at 3.5 V even in the case of a high discharge capacity (3450 mA h g^-1) being delivered, resulting in the high electrical energy efficiency approaching 80%. Such an improvement is attributed to the fact that the introduction of the n-type Si coating layer changes the surface properties of CNTs and guides the formation of nanosized amorphous-like lithium peroxides with plenty of defects. These results demonstrate that the cathode surface properties play an important role in the formation of products formed during the cycle, providing inspiration to design superior cathodes for the Li-O₂ cells.

Clarification of Solvent Effects on Discharge Products in Li-O2 Batteries through a Titration Method

As a substitute for the current lithium-ion batteries, rechargeable lithium oxygen batteries have attracted much attention because of their theoretically high energy density, but many challenges continue to exist. For the development of these batteries, understanding and controlling the main discharge product Li₂O₂ (lithium peroxide) are of paramount importance. Here, we comparatively analyzed the amount of Li₂O₂ in the cathodes discharged at various discharge capacities and current densities in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME) solvents. The precise assessment entailed revisiting and revising the UV-vis titration analysis. The amount of Li₂O₂ electrochemically formed in DMSO was less than that formed in TEGDME at the same capacity and even at a much higher full discharge capacity in DMSO than in TEGDME. On the basis of our analytical experimental results, this unexpected result was ascribed to the presence of soluble LiO₂-like intermediates that remained in the DMSO solvent and the chemical transformation of Li₂O₂ to LiOH, both of which originated from the inherent properties of the DMSO solvent.

A lithium-ion oxygen battery with a Si anode lithiated in situ by a Li3N-containing cathode

A novel Li_xSi–O₂ battery is built using an in situ formed Li–Si alloy anode based on the decomposition of Li₃N pre-loaded in the cathode.

Pt and Pd catalyzed oxidation of Li2O2 and DMSO during Li-O2 battery charging

Rechargeable Li-O2 and Li-air batteries require electrode and electrolyte materials that synergistically promote long-term cell operation. In this study, we investigate the role of noble metals Pt and Pd as catalysts in the Li-O2 oxidation process and their compatibility with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) based electrolytes. We identify a basis for low potential Li2O2 evolution followed by oxidative decomposition of the electrolyte to form carbonate side products.

Influence of Binders and Solvents on Stability of Ru/RuOx Nanoparticles on ITO Nanocrystals as Li-O2 Battery Cathodes

Fundamental research on Li-O₂ batteries remains critical, and the nature of the reactions and stability are paramount for realising the promise of the Li-O₂ system. We report that indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocrystals with supported 1-2 nm oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst Ru/RuO_x nanoparticles (NPs) demonstrate efficient OER processes, reduce the recharge overpotential of the cell significantly and maintain catalytic activity to promote a consistent cycling discharge potential in Li-O₂ cells even when the ITO support nanocrystals deteriorate from the very first cycle. The Ru/RuO_x nanoparticles lower the charge overpotential compared with those for ITO and carbon-only cathodes and have the greatest effect in DMSO electrolytes with a solution-processable F-free carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) binder (<3.5 V) instead of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The Ru/RuO_x /ITO nanocrystalline materials in DMSO provide efficient Li₂ O₂ decomposition from within the cathode during cycling. We demonstrate that the ITO is actually unstable from the first cycle and is modified by chemical etching, but the Ru/RuO_x NPs remain effective OER catalysts for Li₂ O₂ during cycling. The CMC binders avoid PVDF-based side-reactions and improve the cyclability. The deterioration of the ITO nanocrystals is mitigated significantly in cathodes with a CMC binder, and the cells show good cycle life. In mixed DMSO-EMITFSI [EMITFSI=1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide] ionic liquid electrolytes, the Ru/RuO_x /ITO materials in Li-O₂ cells cycle very well and maintain a consistently very low charge overpotential of 0.5-0.8 V.

The importance of solvent selection in Li–O2 cells

Diglyme (G2) is the highly preferred solvent choice over other types of glymes for achieving longer cycling performance of Li–O₂ cells.

Three-Dimensional Ordered Macroporous FePO4 as High-Efficiency Catalyst for Rechargeable Li-O2 Batteries

The Li-O₂ battery is receiving much recent attention because of its superhigh theoretical energy density. However, its performance is limited by the irreversible formation/decomposition of Li₂O₂ on the cathode and the undesired electrolyte decomposition. In this work, low-cost three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM) FePO₄ is synthesized by using polystyrene (PS) spheres template in a facile experimental condition and applied as a high-efficiency catalyst for rechargeable Li-O₂ batteries, including good rate performance, high specific capacity, and perfect cycling stability. The superior performances can be attributed to the unique structure of 3DOM FePO₄ cathodes, which can provide an efficient buffer space for O₂/Li₂O₂ conversion. In addition, it is demonstrated that the Li⁺ intercalation/deintercalation behavior of 3DOM FePO₄ in ether-based electrolyte can contribute to capacity for Li-O₂ batteries over cycling. As a result, when there is no O₂ in the environment, the Li-O₂ cell can also be operated as a rechargeable Li-FePO₄ cell with a perfect cycle capability.

Electrochemical Thin Layers in Nanostructures for Energy Storage

Conventional electrical energy storage (EES) electrodes, such as rechargeable batteries, are mostly based on composites of monolithic micrometer sized particles bound together with polymeric and conductive carbon additives and binders. The kinetic limitations of these monolithic chunks of material are inherently linked to their electrical properties, the kinetics of ion insertion through their interface and ion migration in and through the composite phase. Redox chemistry of nanostructured materials in EES systems offer vast gains in power and energy. Furthermore, due to their thin nature, ion and electron transport is dramatically increased, especially when thin heterogeneous conducting layers are employed synergistically. However, since the stability of the electrode material is dictated by the nature of the electrochemical reaction and the accompanying volumetric and interfacial changes from the perspective of overall system lifetime, research with nanostructured materials has shown often indefinite conclusions: in some cases, an increase in unwanted side-reactions due to the high surface area (bad). In other cases, results have shown significantly better handling of mechanical stress that results from lithiation/delithiation (good). Despite these mixed results, scientifically informed design of thin electrode materials, with carefully chosen architectures, is considered a promising route to address many limitations witnessed in EES systems by reducing and protecting electrodes from parasitic reactions, accommodating mechanical stress due to volumetric changes from electrochemical reactions, and optimizing charge carrier mobilities from both the "ionic" and "electronic" points of view. Furthermore, precise nanoscale control over the electrode structure can enable accurate measurement through advanced spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. This Account summarizes recent findings related to thin electrode materials synthesized by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and electrochemical deposition (ECD), including nanowires, nanotubes, and thin films. Throughout the Account, we will show how these techniques enabled us to synthesize electrodes of interest with precise control over the structure and composition of the material. We will illustrate and discuss how the electrochemical response of thin electrodes made by these techniques can facilitate new mechanisms for ion storage, mediate the interfacial electrochemical response of the electrode, and address issues related to electrode degradation over time. The effects of nanosizing materials and their electrochemical response will be mechanistically reviewed through two categories of ion storage: (1) pseudocapacitance and (2) ion insertion. Additionally, we will show how electrochemical processes that are more complicated because of accompanying volumetric changes and electrode degradation pathways can be mediated and controlled by application of thin functional materials on the electrochemically active interface; examples include conversion electrodes, reactive lithium metal anodes, and complex reactions in a Li/O₂ cathode system. The goal of this Account is to illustrate how careful design of thin materials either as active electrodes or as mediating layers can facilitate desirable interfacial electrochemical activity and resolve or shed light on mechanistic limitations of electrochemical processes related to micrometer size particles currently used in energy storage electrodes.

Utilizing in Situ Electrochemical SHINERS for Oxygen Reduction Reaction Studies in Aprotic Electrolytes

Spectroscopic detection of reaction intermediates upon a variety of electrode surfaces is of major interest within physical chemistry. A notable technique in the study of the electrochemical interface has been surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The drawback of SERS is that it is limited to roughened gold and silver substrates. Herein we report that shell-isolated nanoparticles for enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) can overcome the limitations of SERS and has followed the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), within a nonaqueous electrolyte, on glassy carbon, gold, palladium, and platinum disk electrodes. The work presented demonstrates SHINERS for spectroelectrochemical studies for applied and fundamental electrochemistry in aprotic electrolytes, especially for the understanding and development of future metal-oxygen battery applications. In particular, we highlight that with the addition of Li(+), both the electrode surface and solvent influence the ORR mechanism, which opens up the possibility of tailoring surfaces to produce desired reaction pathways.

Life of superoxide in aprotic Li-O₂ battery electrolytes: simulated solvent and counter-ion effects

Li-air batteries ideally make use of oxygen from the atmosphere and metallic lithium to reversibly drive the reaction 2Li + O2↔ Li2O2. Conceptually, energy throughput is high and material use is efficient, but practically many material challenges still remain. It is of particular interest to control the electrolyte environment of superoxide (O2*(-)) to promote or hinder specific reaction mechanisms. By combining density functional theory based molecular dynamics (DFT-MD) and DFT simulations we probe the bond length and the electronic properties of O2*(-) in three aprotic solvents - in the presence of Li(+) or the much larger cation alternative tetrabutylammonium (TBA(+)). Contact ion pairs, LiO2*, are favoured over solvent-separated ion pairs in all solvents, but particularly in low permittivity dimethoxyethane (DME), which makes O2*(-) more prone to further reduction. The Li(+)-O2*(-) interactions are dampened in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), in relation to those in DME and propylene carbonate (PC), which is reflected by smaller changes in the electronic properties of O2*(-) in DMSO. The additive TBA(+) offers an alternative, more weakly interacting partner to O2*(-), which makes it easier to remove the unpaired electron and oxidation more feasible. In DMSO, TBA(+) has close to no effect on O2*(-), which behaves as if no cation is present. This is contrasted by a much stronger influence of TBA(+) on O2*(-) in DME - comparable to that of Li(+) in DMSO. An important future goal is to compare and rank the effects of different additives beyond TBA(+). Here, the results of DFT calculations for small-sized cluster models are in qualitative agreement with those of the DFT-MD simulations, which suggests the cluster approach to be a cost-effective alternative to the DFT-MD simulations for a more extensive comparison of additive effects in future studies.

Dissolution and ionization of sodium superoxide in sodium-oxygen batteries

With the demand for high-energy-storage devices, the rechargeable metal–oxygen battery has attracted attention recently. Sodium–oxygen batteries have been regarded as the most promising candidates because of their lower-charge overpotential compared with that of lithium–oxygen system. However, conflicting observations with different discharge products have inhibited the understanding of precise reactions in the battery. Here we demonstrate that the competition between the electrochemical and chemical reactions in sodium–oxygen batteries leads to the dissolution and ionization of sodium superoxide, liberating superoxide anion and triggering the formation of sodium peroxide dihydrate (Na₂O₂·2H₂O). On the formation of Na₂O₂·2H₂O, the charge overpotential of sodium–oxygen cells significantly increases. This verification addresses the origin of conflicting discharge products and overpotentials observed in sodium–oxygen systems. Our proposed model provides guidelines to help direct the reactions in sodium–oxygen batteries to achieve high efficiency and rechargeability.

Sodium-oxygen batteries are promising energy storage devices but the nature of their discharge products remains unresolved. Here, the authors reveal that the dissolution and ionization of sodium superoxide leads to the formation of other phases, which increases the charge overpotential of the cell.

Catalytic Behavior of Lithium Nitrate in Li-O2 Cells

The development of a successful Li-O2 battery depends to a large extent on the discovery of electrolyte solutions that remain chemically stable through the reduction and oxidation reactions that occur during cell operations. The influence of the electrolyte anions on the behavior of Li-O2 cells was thought to be negligible. However, it has recently been suggested that specific anions can have a dramatic effect on the chemistry of a Li-O2 cell. In the present paper, we describe how LiNO3 in polyether solvents can improve both oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution (OER) reactions. In particular, the nitrate anion can enhance the ORR by enabling a mechanism that involves solubilized species like superoxide radicals, which allows for the formation of submicronic Li2O2 particles. Such phenomena were also observed in Li-O2 cells with high donor number solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylacetamide (DMA). Nevertheless, their instability toward oxygen reduction, lithium metals, and high oxidation potentials renders them less suitable than polyether solvents. In turn, using catalysts like LiI to reduce the OER overpotential might enhance parasitic reactions. We show herein that LiNO3 can serve as an electrolyte and useful redox mediator. NO2(-) ions are formed by the reduction of nitrate ions on the anode. Their oxidation forms NO2, which readily oxidizes to Li2O2. The latter process moves the OER overpotentials down into a potential window suitable for polyether solvent-based cells. Advanced analytical tools, including in situ electrochemical quartz microbalance (EQCM) and ESR plus XPS, HR-SEM, and impedance spectroscopy, were used for the studies reported herein.