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NON-AQUEOUS BATTERIES

Kinetics of redox-mediated catalysis in batteries

Nature Catalysis volume 5, pages 173–174 (2022)Cite this article

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Studying the kinetics of high-energy and high-power batteries is a formidable challenge. Now, it has been shown that redox-mediated (RM) catalysis in Li–O2 and Li–S batteries can be controlled by tuning parameters such as Li-ion concentration or electrolyte solvent, revealing threshold potentials in which rate constants increase several-fold.

Electric vehicles (EVs) and smart power storage systems based on rechargeable batteries are key technologies to achieve the goal of a low-carbon society. However, current lithium-ion batteries cannot completely satisfy the industrial needs for EVs with long endurance. It is thus imperative to develop high-energy-density rechargeable batteries that can safely operate during long cycles. The development of Li–O2, Li–S and other non-aqueous batteries with large theoretical energy densities, based on abundant elements and that are environmentally friendly has attracted a great deal of attention1,2,3,4. However, LiO2 and Li2Sn (n > 4) formed and dissolved into the electrolyte in Li–O2 and Li–S batteries, respectively, results in high overpotential and low energy conversion efficiency and instability. Redox mediated (RM) catalysis has recently been introduced to overcome the problem of high overpotentials in such systems3.

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Fig. 1: Kinetics in RM-related batteries.

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  1. Centre of Energy Storage Materials & Technology, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, National Laboratory of Solid-State Microstructures, and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China

    Haoshen Zhou

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  1. Haoshen Zhou
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Correspondence to Haoshen Zhou.

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Zhou, H. Kinetics of redox-mediated catalysis in batteries. Nat Catal 5, 173–174 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-022-00758-7

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