设计稳定和可逆的锂-空气电池阴极催化剂的研究进展

Research progress on designing stable and reversible cathodes catalysts for lithium-air batteries

锂-空气电池具有极高的理论能量密度,成为下一代最有希望的电化学能量储存技术之一。锂-空气电池的性能主要取决于空气阴极表面发生的电化学反应,因此,合理设计具有高稳定性和可逆性的阴极是实现商业化可行的锂-空气电池的关键所在。然而,传统碳基电极的不稳定性导致的副反应会限制电池容量及其循环性能,因此,需要寻找能够替代碳基电极的新型电极。本文首先结合锂-空气电池的结构和阴极反应原理,提出了目前锂-空气电池面临的挑战,然后基于碳基阴极的不稳定性分析总结了设计稳定和可逆的锂-空气电池阴极的方法,最后提出了阴极催化剂的合理设计和催化机理的深入理解对锂-空气电池阴极的性能改善起着决定性作用的观点。

Lithium-air batteries(LABs) are among the most promising electrochemical energy storage technologies in the future due to extremely high theoretical energy density. The performance of LABs is mainly governed by the electrochemical reactions that occur on the surface of the cathode. Therefore, the rational design of a cathode with high stability and reversibility is the key to commercially viable LABs. However, the side reactions are caused by the instability of traditional carbon-based electrodes can limit capacity and cycle performance of LABs, therefore, alternative carbon-based electrode materials are required. Based on the structure and the principle of cathode reaction of LABs, the current challenges of LABs were presented. Then based on the analysis of the instability of carbon-based cathode, the design of a stable and reversible cathode for LABs was summarized. Finally, a perspective that the rational design of the cathode catalyst and the in-depth understanding of the catalytic mechanism play a decisive role in the performance improvement of LABS was provided.