The first
fully rechargeable
lithium-carbon dioxide battery !
Lithium-carbon dioxide
batteries have a specific
energy density more than
seven times greater
than the commonly used
lithium-ion batteries.
Scientists just
recently developed
a fully rechargeable
prototype.
Researchers at the
University of Illinois
at Chicago are the first
to successfully test a
lithium-carbon dioxide
battery prototype
running up to 500
consecutive cycles
of charge/recharge
cycles.
Their findings
are published
in the journal
Advanced
Materials.
"Lithium-carbon dioxide
batteries have been
attractive for a long time,
but in practice, we have
been unable to get one
that is truly efficient
until now,"
said Amin Salehi-Khojin,
associate professor
of mechanical and
industrial engineering
at UIC's College of
Engineering.
In the past, when
a lithium-carbon dioxide
battery discharges,
it produces lithium
carbonate and carbon.
The lithium carbonate
recycles during the
charge phase,
but the carbon
just accumulates
on the catalyst,
leading tbattery failure.
"The accumulation of carbon
not only blocks the active sites
of the catalyst and prevents
carbon dioxide diffusion,
but also triggers electrolyte
decomposition in a charged state,"
said Alireza Ahmadiparidari,
first author of the paper
and a UIC College of
Engineering graduate
student.
Salehi-Khojin and
his colleagues
used molybdenum
disulfide as a
cathode catalyst
combined with
a hybrid electrolyte
to help incorporate
carbon in the
cycling process.
"Our unique combination
of materials helps make
the first carbon-neutral
lithium carbon dioxide battery
with much more efficiency
and long-lasting cycle life,
which will enable it to be used
in advanced energy
storage systems,"
Salehi-Khojin said.