Co-deposition of conductive additives and lithium peroxide during discharge to boost the performance of lithium–oxygen batteries

Abstract

Lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs) have been regarded as a promising energy storage system for applications in electric vehicles and aviation. However, the development of high-performance LOBs has been hindered by the challenges associated with insulating discharge products, such as low energy efficiency and poor rate performance. Here, we report that insulating lithium peroxide (Li₂O₂) can deposit with a carbon nanotube (CNT) additive during the discharge process and eventually be woven into a conductive network. The constructed network enhances the conductivity of Li₂O₂ and accelerates the kinetics of electrode reactions. As a result, the battery containing 1.0 mg mL⁻¹ CNTs in the electrolyte exhibits a high areal capacity of 5.7 mA h cm⁻² and superior rate performance at 1.41 A g_CNT⁻¹. Furthermore, the introduction of ruthenium nanoparticles to the CNTs results in stable cycling for 550 hours. This research opens up a new avenue for addressing the issues caused by insulating discharge products in LOBs.