Enhancing Cycle Life in Superoxide‐Based Na–O<sub>2</sub> Batteries by Reducing Interface Reactivity
Abstract Sodium–oxygen (Na–O 2 ) batteries are considered a promising energy storage alternative to current state‐of‐the‐art technologies owing to their high theoretical energy density, along with the natural abundance and low price of Na metal. The chemistry of these batteries depends on sodium superoxide (NaO 2 ) or peroxide (Na 2 O 2 ) being formed/decomposed. Most Na–O 2 batteries form NaO 2 , but reversibility is usually quite limited due to side reactions at interfaces. By using new materials, including a highly active catalyst based on vanadium phosphide (VP) nanoparticles, an ether/ionic liquid‐based electrolyte, and an effective sodium bromide (NaBr) anode protection layer, the sources of interface reactivity can be reduced to achieve a Na–O 2 battery cell that is rechargeable for 1070 cycles with a high energy efficiency of more than 83%. Density functional theory calculations, along with experimental characterization confirm the three factors leading to the long cycle life, including the effectiveness of the NaBr protective layer on the anode, a tetraglyme/EMIM‐BF 4 based electrolyte that prevents oxidation of the VP cathode catalyst surface, and the EMIM‐BF 4 ionic liquid aiding in avoiding electrolyte decomposition on NaO 2 .
Authors
- Gwang-Hun Kim
- Moon Gyu Park (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5371-6684)
- Alireza Kondori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6959-2292)
- Mohammad Asadi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0354-2473)
- Mahmoud Tamadoni Saray
- Robert F. Klie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4773-6667)
- Larry A. Curtiss (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8855-8006)
- Ahn T. Ngo
- Arashdeep Singh Thind (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0262-766X)
- Ahmad M. Harzandi
- Reza Shahbazian‐Yassar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7744-4780)
- Pablo Navarro Munoz Delgado
- Nannan Shan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7700-6246)
- Adel Azaribeni
- Musawenkosi K. Ncube
Institutions
- Argonne National Laboratory (US)
- Illinois Institute of Technology (US)
- University of Illinois Chicago (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Energy Materials
- Published
- 2025-02-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202404703
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.19
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Energy
- W. M. Keck Foundation
- Northwestern University
- University of Chicago
- Office of Science
- Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University
- Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research
- Vehicle Technologies Program
- Division of Materials Research
- Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
- Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems
- Office of Energy Efficiency
- Army Research Office
- Argonne National Laboratory