Direct Observations of the Formation and Redox-Mediator-Assisted Decomposition of Li2O2 in a Liquid-Cell Li–O2 Microbattery by Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

Chuchu Yang, Jiuhui Han, Pan Liu, Chen Hou, Gang Huang, Takeshi Fujita, Akihiko Hirata, Mingwei Chen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Operando scanning transmission electron microscopy observations of cathodic reactions in a liquid-cell Li–O2 microbattery in the presence of the redox mediator tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) in 1.0 m LiClO4 dissolved dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte are reported. It is found that the TTF addition does not obviously affect the discharge reaction for the formation of a solid Li2O2 phase. The coarsening of Li2O2 nanoparticles occurs via both conventional Ostwald ripening and nonclassical crystallization by particle attachment. During charging, the oxidation reaction at significantly reduced charge potentials mainly takes place at Li2O2/electrolyte interfaces and has obvious correspondence with the oxidized TTF+ distributions in the electric fields of the charged electrode. This study provides direct evidence that TTF truly plays a role in promoting the decomposition of Li2O2 as a soluble charge-transfer agent between the electrode and the Li2O2.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1702752
JournalAdvanced Materials
Volume29
Issue number41
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017 Nov 6
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Li–O batteries
  • liquid-cell TEM
  • operando scanning transmission electron microscopy
  • redox mediators
  • tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Science(all)
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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