Achilles’ Heel of Lithium–Air Batteries: Lithium Carbonate

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018-04, Vol.57 (15), p.3874-3886
• Main Authors: Zhao, Zhiwei, Huang, Jun, Peng, Zhangquan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batteries; Decomposition; electrochemistry; electrolytes; Energy storage; energy storage materials; Energy technology; Lithium; Lithium carbonate; lithium–air batteries; Metal air batteries; R&D; Research & development
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201710156

The lithium–air battery (LAB) is envisaged as an ultimate energy storage device because of its highest theoretical specific energy among all known batteries. However, parasitic reactions bring about vexing issues on the efficiency and longevity of the LAB, among which the formation and decomposition of lithium carbonate Li2CO3 is of paramount importance. The discovery of Li2CO3 as the main discharge product in carbonate‐based electrolytes once brought researchers to “the end of the idyll“ in the early 2010s. In the past few years, tremendous efforts have been made to understand the formation and decomposition mechanisms of Li2CO3, as well as to conceive novel chemical/material strategies to suppress the Li2CO3 formation and to facilitate the Li2CO3 decomposition. Moreover, the study on Li2CO3 in LABs is opening up a new research field in energy technology. Considering the rapid development and innumerous emerging issues, it is timely to recapitulate the current understandings, define the ambiguities and the scientific gaps, and discuss topics of high priority for future research, which is the aim of this Minireview. Formation and decomposition of Li2CO3: In lithium–air batteries, Li2CO3 is a major by‐product that can lead to cell dry‐out and early failure. Therefore, understanding the formation and decomposition mechanisms of Li2CO3 lays the basis for a better design of lithium–air batteries.