Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (2): 232-245.doi: 10.1007/s40242-021-0026-9

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Strategies with Functional Materials in Tackling Instability Challenges of Non-aqueous Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

WANG Huanfeng1,2, LI Jingjing1, LI Fei2, GUAN Dehui2, WANG Xiaoxue2, SU Wenhua1, XU Jijing2,3   

  1. 1. College of Chemical and Food, Zhengzhou University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450044, P. R. China;
    2. State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis & Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China;
    3. International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
  • Received:2021-01-18 Online:2021-04-01 Published:2021-03-29
  • Contact: XU Jijing E-mail:jijingxu@jlu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.51771177, 51972141, 21621001, 21835002), the Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Program, China(No.20190303104SF), the Jilin Province/Jilin University Co-construction Project-Funds for New Materials, China (No.SXGJSF2017-3), the Science and Technology Breakthrough Plan of Henan Province, China(Nos.202102210242, 212102210186), the Key Scientific Research Project of Higher Education of Henan Province, China(No.21A150055), and the Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of Zhengzhou University of Technology, China(No.201911068020).

Abstract: The instabilities of the battery including cathode corrosion/passivation, shuttling effect of the redox mediators, Li anode corrosion, and electrolyte decomposition are major barriers toward the practical implementation of lithium-oxygen(Li-O2) batteries. Functional materials offer great potential in high performance Li-O2 batteries owing to their functional tailorability of chemical modification for alleviating side reactions and improving catalysis activity, well-defined properties for discharge products storage, and fast mass and electron transfer paths. In this review, instability problems of non-aqueous Li-O2 batteries and recent stu-dies related to the functional materials in tackling the instability issues from rational cathode construction, inhibition of redox mediators(RMs) shuttling, anode protection and novel electrolyte design are illustrated. Future research directions to overcome the critical issues are also proposed for this promising battery technology. The instability issues and the related strategies with functional materials based on the comprehensive consideration of all battery components proposed in this review provide the systematic, deep understanding and rational design of functional materials for Li-O2 batte-ries, which is beneficial to achieving the practical Li-O2 batteries.

Key words: Functional material, Instability challenge, Parasitic reaction, Non-aqueous Li-O2 battery