Ordered mesoporous carbon electrodes for Li-O2 batteries

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013 Dec 26;5(24):13426-31. doi: 10.1021/am404336f. Epub 2013 Nov 21.

Abstract

Ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) with highly ordered pore channels was applied as an oxygen-side electrode for a Li-O2 battery. To evaluate the effect of the pore channel size on battery performance, we employed OMCs possessing two different pore sizes (6 and 17 nm). When cycled at a current density of 200 mA g(-1)carbon, the OMC electrodes reduced polarization in the oxygen evolution reaction by 0.1 V compared to those consisting of conventional super P carbon electrode. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy of the discharged oxygen electrodes provided evidence for the formation of amorphous Li2O2, a product of the oxygen reduction reaction, inside the OMC pores rather than on the electrode surface as in the case of the super P electrode. The OMC electrodes were also effective at high current densities (500 mA g(-1)carbon and 1000 mA g(-1)carbon).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Electrochemical Techniques
  • Electrodes
  • Lithium / chemistry*
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Porosity

Substances

  • Carbon
  • Lithium
  • Oxygen