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Journal of Electrochemistry 2023, 29(2): 2215001 https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.2215001
Review | Open Access | Issue | Published: 24 June 2022

Advances and Challenges on Cathode Catalysts for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

Show Author's Information Bo Wena,  Zhuo Zhua,  Fu-Jun Lia,b( )
Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
Keywords:
Reaction kinetics, Cathode catalysts, Aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries, Overvoltage, Formation/decomposition of Li2O2
Cite this article:
Wen B, Zhu Z, Li F-J. Advances and Challenges on Cathode Catalysts for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries. Journal of Electrochemistry , 2023, 29(2): 2215001. https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.2215001
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Abstract Full text About this article

Aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) with high theoretical energy density have received considerable attention over the past years. However, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)/oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at cathodes suffer from slow kinetics for large overvoltages in LOBs. Significant advances on catalysts have been achieved to accelerate cathode kinetics, but understanding on the formation/decomposition processes of Li2O2 is limited. Herein, this review highlights the fundamental understanding of the correlation between catalysts and formation/decomposition of Li2O2. Various types of cathode catalysts are discussed to reveal the mechanism of formation/decomposition of Li2O2, aiming to present the prerequisites for the design of highly efficient cathode catalysts. Future prospects of comprehensive consideration on introduction of light or magnetism, protection of Li metal anode, and electrolyte engineering are presented for the further development of LOBs.


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About this article

Advances and Challenges on Cathode Catalysts for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

Show Author's information Bo Wena, Zhuo Zhua, Fu-Jun Lia,b( )
Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China

Abstract

Aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) with high theoretical energy density have received considerable attention over the past years. However, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)/oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at cathodes suffer from slow kinetics for large overvoltages in LOBs. Significant advances on catalysts have been achieved to accelerate cathode kinetics, but understanding on the formation/decomposition processes of Li2O2 is limited. Herein, this review highlights the fundamental understanding of the correlation between catalysts and formation/decomposition of Li2O2. Various types of cathode catalysts are discussed to reveal the mechanism of formation/decomposition of Li2O2, aiming to present the prerequisites for the design of highly efficient cathode catalysts. Future prospects of comprehensive consideration on introduction of light or magnetism, protection of Li metal anode, and electrolyte engineering are presented for the further development of LOBs.

Keywords: Reaction kinetics, Cathode catalysts, Aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries, Overvoltage, Formation/decomposition of Li2O2

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Received: 24 May 2022
Revised: 08 June 2022
Accepted: 22 June 2022
Published: 24 June 2022
Issue date: February 2023

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© 2023 Xiamen University and Chinese Chemical Society.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks for the financial support of National Natural Science Foundation of China (52171215), Tianjin Natural Science Foundation (19JCJQJC62400), and Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations.

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