Ambient lithium–air battery enabled by a versatile oxygen electrode based on boron carbide supported ruthenium. (29th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ruan, Yanli; Yu, Limei; Song, Shidong; Qin, Xuhui; Sun, Jian; Li, Wanjun; Chen, Butian
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 44:Number 59(2019)
• Page Start: 31153
• Page End: 31159
• Publication Date: 2019-11-29
• Subjects: Li–air batteries -- Li2CO3 decomposition -- Non-carbon electrode -- Ruthenium -- Boron carbide; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.10.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Li-air batteries (LABs) operated in ambient air containing moisture and CO2 highly desire the oxygen electrodes to have capability of Li2 CO3 and LiOH decomposition and electrochemical stability. Here we report the application of a stable non-carbon based oxygen electrode based on boron carbide supported ruthenium (Ru/B4 C) for ambient LABs. LABs using Ru/B4 C deliver a discharge capacity of 2689 mA h g −1 and voltage plateaus of 2.7 V and 3.8 V for discharge and charge process, respectively at 0.1 mA cm −2, which are comparable to those for Ru/B4 C-based Li–O2 battery (2796 mA h g −1, 2.8 V and 3.7 V, respectively). Under limited capacity of 300 mA h g −1, LAB exhibits 45 stable cycles, close to the 50 cycles for its Li–O2 battery counterpart. The typical product for the first discharge for LAB is the mixture of Li2 CO3 and Li2 O2 with relative content ratio of 62:38, which cannot be detected after the first charge. The non-carbon based Ru/B4 C oxygen electrode provides a promising approach for the stable operation of LABs in ambient air. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Non-carbon-based Ru/B4 C electrode shows good ORR/OER activity. Ru/B4 C effectively decompose Li2 CO3 on charge. High stable Ru/B4 C can be oxidation-resistive. Li-air batteries exhibit comparable performance in air to that in O2 . Stable and versatile Ru/B4 C oxygen electrode is promising.