Abstract
The electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and on CNT (carbon nanotube) cathode with a palladium catalyst, palladium-coated CNT (PC-CNT), and palladium-filled CNT (PF-CNT) are assessed in an ether-based electrolyte solution in order to fabricate a lithium-oxygen battery with high specific energy. The electrochemical properties of the CNT cathodes were studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Palladium-filled cathodes displayed better performance as compared to the palladium-coated ones due to the shielding of the catalysts. The mechanism of the improvement was associated to the reduction of the rate of resistances growth in the batteries, especially the ionic resistances in the electrolyte and electrodes. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectroscopy were used to analyze the products of the reaction that were adsorbed on the electrode surface of the battery, which was fabricated using palladium-coated and palladium-filled CNTs as cathodes and an ether-based electrolyte.
Highlights
Rechargeable batteries convert chemical energy to electrical energy by the reversible electrochemical reactions of reduction and oxidation
Due to the growing demand for advanced energy storage solutions for the smart grids, automotive industries, and other consumer applications, the research for ultra-high theoretical specific energy has led to studies beyond lithium-ion batteries, where metal-air batteries have been at the forefront of this research [5,6,7]
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with a diameter of 5–20 nm, length of 5 μm, and purity of carbon basis were purchased from Sigma Aldrich
Summary
Rechargeable batteries convert chemical energy to electrical energy by the reversible electrochemical reactions of reduction and oxidation. Abraham et al first reported on a non-aqueous lithium-oxygen battery in 1996, which consisted ofBatteries a lithium anode, a polymer electrolyte, and a porous carbon-air cathode [9]. During the discharging of a Li-O2 battery, Li+ migrates through the electrolyte to the cathode, where the incoming electrons the external circuit combine with oxygen from the atmosphere to form to peroxide ions, O2 2–. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known to have high electrical conductivity, a high specific area, more of accessible active sites for reactions, and better chemical stability. The presence of a catalyst destabilizes the oxidizing species, which results in decreased decreased charging overpotential in Li-O2 batteries [40,41,42].
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