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In situ imaging of lithium superoxide dynamics in an all-solid-state Li–O2 nanobattery.
- Source :
- Journal of Materials Chemistry A; 10/14/2022, Vol. 10 Issue 38, p20294-20301, 8p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Lithium superoxide (LiO<subscript>2</subscript>), which is considered to be an unstable intermediate, was shown recently to be a stable discharge product in lithium oxygen batteries (LOBs). As such, the in situ observation of LiO<subscript>2</subscript> dynamics may provide direct evidence for the working mechanism of LOBs. Here we report in situ imaging of the nucleation, growth and stabilization of LiO<subscript>2</subscript> in LOBs with Au nanoparticle coated carbon nanotubes as an air cathode by aberration corrected environmental transmission electron microscopy. During discharge, LiO<subscript>2</subscript> spheres nucleated and grew from aggregated Li–Au alloy (Li<subscript>15</subscript>Au<subscript>4</subscript>) nanoparticle seeds and were stable for several minutes. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the de-activation of lithium via electron transfer from Li to Au and O weakens Li's electron donation capability and prevents the dissolution of superoxide-like species, which favors a one electron transfer oxygen reduction reaction, thus facilitating the nucleation and stabilization of LiO<subscript>2</subscript>. The lithium de-activation induced LiO<subscript>2</subscript> dynamics advances our understanding of LiO<subscript>2</subscript> mediated solid-state LOBs and may provide a new strategy for the design of LOBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20507488
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 38
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Materials Chemistry A
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 159501729
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ta00417h