Topic: Nanostructured Cathode Architecture for Improving Performance of Li-O2 Battery

Date: 20 Oct. 2017

Time: 15:30-16:30

Venue: 501, Boxue Building

Abstract: The lithium-oxygen battery has received significant interest because of its extremely high theoretical energy density, which exceeds that of any other existing energy storage systems. One of the main challenges faced by the development of Li-O2 batteries is the high overpotentials on discharge and in particular on charge. A large overpotential during charge, even at very low current densities, results in very low round-trip efficiencies, low power capability and poor cycle life. Here report a cathode architecture based on nanoscale components that results in a dramatic reduction in charge overpotential, which is enabled by the combination of palladium nanoparticles attached to the carbon cathode surface and the coating preventing electrolyte decomposition on carbon. As a consequence, the air cathode based on this modified architecture shows promising results for solving the charge overpotential problem, and provides the basis for future development of lithium-oxygen cathode materials that can be used to improve the efficiency and to extend cycle life.

About the speaker:

Dr. Xiangyi Luo

Dr. Xiangyi Luo earned her Ph.D. degree of Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Utah in 2015. Before that, she earned her Bachelor degree in Astrophysics from Peking University in 2008 and Master degree in Physics from the University of Utah in 2011. Dr. Luo started her major research on rechargeable Li-O2 battery in 2012 as a visiting graduate student of Argonne National Laboratory, USA, and continued her research as a postdoctoral researcher in Argonne since 2015. Dr. Luo studies materials for Li-O2 battery, as well as widely contributes to advanced energy storage systems, such as Li-ion battery, sodium battery, and hydrogen storage.