This paper emphasizes the critical role of electrolyte selection in enhancing the electrochemical performance of nonaqueous Li-O2 batteries (LOBs). It provides a comprehensive overview of various electrolyte types and their effects on the electrochemical performance for LOBs, offering insights for future electrolyte screening and design. Despite recent advancements, current electrolyte systems exhibit inadequate stability, necessitating the urgent quest for an ideal nonaqueous electrolyte. Such an electrolyte should demonstrate superior physicochemical and electrochemical stability, particularly in the presence of superoxide radicals (O2 -), with high oxygen solubility, rapid diffusion rates, and the capability to form a stable SEI film on the lithium anode. The paper advocates for further research in three key areas: the selection of suitable electrolytes, the construction of stable electrode/electrolyte interfaces, and the mechanistic exploration of byproduct formation. Addressing these challenges will advance the development of electrolyte technology for LOBs, paving the way for its commercialization and broad application.
Keywords: Electrochemical performance; Li-O2 batteries; Nonaqueous electrolyte; Stable electrode/electrolyte interfaces.
© 2025 The Chemical Society of Japan and Wiley-VCH GmbH.