Organic Solvent-Based Li–Air Batteries with Cotton and Charcoal Cathode

Abstract

We report on the construction and investigation of Li–air batteries consisting of a charcoal cathode and cotton texture soaked with different organic solvents containing a lithium triflate (LiOTf) electrolyte. Charcoal was found to be an appropriate cathode for Li–air batteries. Furthermore, cycling tests showed stable operation at over 800 cycles when dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DEGME) were used as solvents, whereas low electrochemical stability was observed when propylene carbonate was used. The charging, discharging, and long-term discharging steps were mathematically modeled. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed Gerischer impedance, suggesting intensive oxygen transport at the surface of the charcoal cathode. Diffusion, charge transfer, and solid electrolyte interphase processes were identified using distribution of relaxation time analysis. In the polypropylene (PP) membrane soaked with LiOTf in DEGME, three different states of Li ions were identified by 7Li-triple-quantum time proportional phase increment nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. On the basis of the latter results, a mechanism was suggested for Li-ion transport inside the PP membrane. The activity of the charcoal cathode was confirmed by Raman and cyclic voltammetry measurements.