High‐Capacity and Long‐Cycle Lifetime Li−CO 2 /O 2 Battery Based on Dandelion‐like NiCo 2 O 4 Hollow Microspheres

• Published in: ChemCatChem 2019-07, Vol.11 (13), p.3117-3124
• Main Authors: Zou, Lu, Jiang, Yuexing, Cheng, Junfang, Wang, Ziling, Jia, Lichao, Chi, Bo, Pu, Jian, Jian, Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1867-3880; 1867-3899
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201900507

As a promising energy storage technology, Li−CO 2 /O 2 battery with ultrahigh discharge capacities have received much attention, reaching capacities three times that of Li−O 2 batteries. Herein, using an excellent catalyst, NiCo 2 O 4 designed as a 3D dandelion‐like hollow nanostructure, a Li−CO 2 /O 2 battery is systematically investigated to understand how the reaction mechanisms are affected by CO 2 . With CO 2 stabilization, the batteries could achieve a specific discharge capacity as high as 22000 mAh/g and a long‐term cycling performance of up to 140 cycles without apparent deterioration. In addition, the intrinsic mechanism of the current density influence is explored based on the Li 2 CO 3 morphology evolution. Superoxide anion radical species (O 2 .− ) were identified to be rapidly consumed by CO 2 , which dramatically enhances the stability of Li−O 2 batteries. The results indicate that the NiCo 2 O 4 nanocatalyst can efficiently inhibit Li 2 CO 3 aggregation and realize the maximum utilization of active sites. The results confirm that the 3D dandelion‐like NiCo 2 O 4 catalyst can be a potential cathode for Li−CO 2 /O 2 batteries.