Robust cycling of Li-O2 batteries through the synergistic effect of blended electrolytes.
Despite their exceptionally large specific capacities, the use of Li-O2 batteries has been limited because of their poor cycle lives, which originates from irreversible reaction processes during each cycle. Recent investigations have found that electrolyte decomposition is one of the most critical reasons for capacity decay. Herein, we report that a blended electrolyte, consisting of a carbonate solvent and an ionic liquid, improves the cycle lives of Li-O2 batteries remarkably through a synergistic effect from both components. Both electrolyte components perform complementary functions to each other: The ionic liquid suppresses the decomposition of the carbonate solvent, and the carbonate solvent resolves the poor ionic conductivity of the ionic liquid. This study confirms the importance and opportunities for the use of electrolytes in Li-O2 batteries.
Graduate School of EEWS (WCU) and KAIST NanoCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1 Guseong Dong, Yuseong Gu, Daejon 305-701, Korea.
Byung Gon
BG
Kim
Je-Nam
JN
Lee
Dong Jin
DJ
Lee
Jung-Ki
JK
Park
Jang Wook
JW
Choi
D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D011407:Propane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D052578:Ionic Liquids; C045990:propylene carbonate; D008094:Lithium; D010100:Oxygen; D011407:Propane