Aprotic metal-oxygen batteries: recent findings and insights

Daniel Sharon, Daniel Hirshberg, Michal Afri, Aryeh A. Frimer, Malachi Noked, Doron Aurbach

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

During the last two decades, we have observed a dramatic increase in the electrification of many technologies. What has enabled this transition to take place was the commercialization of Li-ion batteries in the early nineties. Mobile technologies such as cellular phones, laptops, and medical devices make these batteries crucial for our contemporary lifestyle. Like any other electrochemical cell, the Li-ion batteries are restricted to the thermodynamic limitations of the materials. It might be that the energy density of the most advance Li-ion battery is still too low for demanding technologies such as a full electric vehicle. To really convince future customers to switch from the internal combustion engine, new batteries and chemistry need to be developed. Non-aqueous metal-oxygen batteries—such as lithium–oxygen, sodium–oxygen, magnesium–oxygen, and potassium–oxygen—offer high capacity and high operation voltages. Also, by using suitable polar aprotic solvents, the oxygen reduction process that occurs during discharge can be reversed by applying an external potential during the charge process. Thus, in theory, these batteries could be electrically recharged a number of times. However, there are many scientific and technical challenges that need to be addressed. The current review highlights recent scientific insights related to these promising batteries. Nevertheless, the reader will note that many conclusions are applicable in other kinds of batteries as well.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1861-1878
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Solid State Electrochemistry
Volume21
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2017

Keywords

  • Li–O cells
  • Metal–oxygen batteries
  • Na–O cells
  • Non-aqueous electrolyte solutions
  • Oxygen reduction

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • General Materials Science
  • Electrochemistry

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