We have written about lithium-air batteries previously, that use a reduction of oxygen at their cathode to induce current flow. Lithium-carbon-dioxide batteries Li-CO2 do something similar, except in this instance they use greenhouse gas CO2 at their cathode. An article in Frontiers of Knowledge describes how this converts to Li2CO3 and carbon. This makes for an interesting greenhouse topic to explore.
Why Are Lithium-Carbon-Dioxide Batteries in the Shadows?
Anything that removes carbon-dioxide from the atmosphere is a positive for global warming. So why are lithium-carbon-dioxide batteries in the shadows? After all, a team from Texas University did observe in Frontiers on March 3, 2023:
- Li-CO2 batteries with a theoretical energy density of 1,876 Wh kg−1 are attractive as a promising energy storage strategy.
- And as an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the formation of discharge product Li2CO3 and carbon.
However, and here’s the catch, there are challenges associated with cathode catalysts, electrolytes, and anodes for Li-CO2 batteries.
A New Li-CO2 Cathode from Texas University Team
On September 2, 2023 a second team under guidance of Jianda Wang announced progress in a related direction in Journal of The Electrochemical Society. They had designed and developed “high-efficiency electro-catalysts, that improved the CO2 reduction reaction in lithium-carbon-dioxide batteries, they advised.
The Texas University team used NiMn2O4 electro-catalysts, combined with multiwall carbon nanotubes, as cathode material in their experimental Li-CO2 batteries. And this combination “proved effective in decomposing discharge products, and enhancing cycle performance”:
- Their battery showed stable discharge–charge cycles for at least 30 iterations.
- With a high limited capacity of 1000 mAh/g’ at current density of 100 mA/g.
- Furthermore, the battery exhibited a reversible discharge capacity of 2636 mAh/g.
The research team deployed spectroscopies and microscopies to identify the chemical composition of the discharge products. They believe their work “paves a pathway to increase cycle performance in metal-CO2 batteries”. And that this could in turn “have significant implications for energy storage, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions”.
More Information
Recent Lithium Battery Breakthroughs
More Density with New Lithium-Air Battery
Preview Image: Cumulative Carbon Dioxide Emissions
