Non-Aqueous Primary Li–Air Flow Battery and Optimization of its Cathode through Experiment and Modeling

Byoungsu Kim, Kensuke Takechi, Sichao Ma, Sumit Verma, Shiqi Fu, Amit Desai, Ashtamurthy S. Pawate, Fuminori Mizuno, Paul J.A. Kenis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A primary Li–air battery has been developed with a flowing Li-ion free ionic liquid as the recyclable electrolyte, boosting power capability by promoting superoxide diffusion and enhancing discharge capacity through separately stored discharge products. Experimental and computational tools are used to analyze the cathode properties, leading to a set of parameters that improve the discharge current density of the non-aqueous Li–air flow battery. The structure and configuration of the cathode gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are systematically modified by using different levels of hot pressing and the presence or absence of a microporous layer (MPL). These experiments reveal that the use of thinner but denser MPLs is key for performance optimization; indeed, this leads to an improvement in discharge current density. Also, computational results indicate that the extent of electrolyte immersion and porosity of the cathode can be optimized to achieve higher current density.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4198-4206
Number of pages9
JournalChemSusChem
Volume10
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 9 2017

Keywords

  • batteries
  • electrodes
  • ionic liquids
  • lithium
  • modeling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Materials Science
  • General Energy

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