Competitive Oxygen Reduction Pathways to Superoxide and Peroxide during Sodium‐Oxygen Battery Discharge. Issue 9 (15th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jovanov, Zarko P.; Lutz, Lukas; Lozano, Juan G.; Holc, Conrad; Gao, Xiangwen; Grimaud, Alexis; Tarascon, Jean‐Marie; Chen, Yuhui; Johnson, Lee R.; Bruce, Peter G.
• Is Part Of: Batteries & supercaps. Volume 5:Issue 9(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-06-15
• Subjects: diglyme -- oxygen reduction reaction -- passivating films -- sodium peroxide -- sodium superoxide; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrodes -- Periodicals; Electric batteries -- Periodicals; 621.31242
• DOI: 10.1002/batt.202200055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2566-6223

Abstract

Abstract: The sodium‐air battery offers a sustainable, high‐energy alternative to lithium‐ion batteries. Discharge in the cell containing glyme‐based electrolytes can lead to formation of large cubic NaO2 particles via a solution‐precipitation mechanism. While promising, high rates result in sudden death. The exact nature of the discharge product has been a matter of contention, and Na2 O2 has never been directly detected in a dry glyme Na−O2 cell. If Na2 O2 were to form during discharge in the Na−O2 cell it would have a detrimental impact on cell performance. Here we show that Na2 O2 forms during discharge at high overpotential in the glyme‐based Na−O2 batteries. Na2 O2 formation is confirmed by spectroscopic and electrochemical analysis and electron microscopy demonstrates that it results in thin insulating films at the electrode surface. The formation of these thin films results in rapid cell death during discharge, introducing an inherent chemical limitation to the Na−O2 battery. Abstract : Na2 O2 matters : Sodium‐air battery discharge capacities are limited at high rates and sudden death of the cell is typically observed. Here we use a combination of spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses to confirm the generation of Na2 O2 during O2 reduction in the cell. Electron microscopy demonstrates that this insulation alkali oxide forms as thin films on the electrode, which lead to premature cell death. This highlights a key chemical limitation for Na−O2 battery performance and the need to avoid 2‐electron reduction of oxygen in the battery.