Metal-Free Electron Donor-Acceptor Pair Enabled Long-Term Stability of Li-CO 2 Battery

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 20; no. 34; p. e2400619
• Main Authors: Liu, Zhihao, Zhai, Xingwu, Wei, Tianchen, Liu, Yuchun, Sun, Zhixin, Zhang, Jing, Ding, Honghe, Xia, Yujian, Zhou, Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-08-2024
• Subjects: catalysis; Li‐CO2 battery; growth mode; donor–acceptor pairs
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400619

The challenges of Lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO
) batteries for ensuring long-term cycling stability arise from the thermodynamically stable and electrically insulating discharge products (e.g., Li
CO
), which primarily rely on their interaction with the active materials. To achieve the optimized intermediates, the bifunctional electron donor-acceptor (D-A) pairs are proposed in cathode design to adjust such interactions in the case of B-O pairs. The inclusion of BC
O sites allows for the optimized redistribution of electrons via p-π conjugation. The as-obtained D
-A
pairs endow the enhanced interactions with Li
, CO
, and various intermediates, accompanied by the adjustable growth mode of Li
CO
. The shift from solvation-mediated mode into surface absorption mode in turn manipulates the morphology and decomposition kinetics of Li
CO
. Therefore, the corresponding Li-CO
battery got twofold improved in both the capacity and reversibility. The cycling prolongs exceed 1300 h and well operates at a wide temperature range (20-50 °C) and different folding angles (0-180°). Such a strategy of introducing electron donor-acceptor pairs provides a distinct direction to optimize the lifetime of Li-CO
battery from local structure regulation at the atomic scale, further inspiring in-depth understandings for developing electrochemical energy storage and carbon capture technologies.