Year: 2008
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: An important role of research into lithium batteries is to investigate new approaches that may offer a step change in performance.By their nature, such approaches will often pose many scientific and technological questions.The cathode represents one of the major hurdles in the search for rechargeable lithium batteries with energy storage beyond the present horizon.Lithium intercalation cathodes capable of reversibly cycling 1 Li per formula unit in Li x MO 2 , can store ~300mAhg -1 .By replacing such an electrode with a porous carbon electrode containing a suitable catalyst, O 2 from the air can react with Li + and e - resulting in significantly higher capacities, Fig 1 12345.Given the limited number of approaches capable of raising significantly the capacity of rechargeable lithium batteries, e.g.conversion reactions [6][7][8] , and the high capacity and low cost of an O 2 cathode, further investigation is merited.The catalyst contained within the porous carbon electrode plays a key role in its operation.Results will be presented for various catalysts demonstrating that α-MnO 2 nanowires exhibit amongst the highest capacities, 3000mAhg -1 (based on the mass of carbon alone).Combining the carbon and catalyst more intimately than in a simple composite electrode, results in high capacities, 855mAhg -1 based on total mass of electrode and O 2 , Fig 1.By limiting the discharge to less than the maximum capacity, excellent cyclability may be obtained.
Source: ECS Meeting Abstracts
Institution: University of St Andrews
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2605774938