Pathways for sustainable reaction kinetics in Li-CO2 batteries

Lithium-carbon dioxide batteries hold great promise for high-energy-density storage applications. However, advancing this technology as a sustainable alternative to Li-ion systems requires a deeper understanding of the underlying reaction mechanisms, which remain elusive. A key challenge stems from the added complexity introduced by the presence of oxygen in CO2 environment. In this study, we employ a stable Cu3(VBi)0.5Se4 mid-entropy catalyst and conduct comprehensive investigation to uncover the underlying reaction mechanisms in Li-CO2 batteries under varying CO2/O2 ratios. Under pure CO2 conditions, the battery shows extended rechargeability, sustaining up to 1200 cycles at a current density of 0.2 mA/cm2 and capacity of 0.1 mAh/cm2. However, at high current densities, the discharge potential drops significantly (below 2.0 V), primarily due to sluggish reaction kinetics caused by solid carbon formation. Interestingly, introducing O2 mitigates this limitation, leading to a 58% increase of the discharge potential (from 1.7 V to 2.7 V) at the current density of 0.8 mA/cm2, signifying a substantial boost in energy output. Our results reveal that the reactions follow distinct pathways, shifting from surface- to solution-based mechanism, and even exhibit coexistence of both mechanisms, depending on the CO2/O2 ratio. These findings offer useful insights for designing sustainable Li-gas batteries utilizing CO2 and O2 mixtures. Advancing Li-CO2 systems as a sustainable alternative technology requires a deep understanding of the reaction mechanisms. Here, authors establish a controlled supply of O2 in Li-CO2 batteries as a strategy to increase performance and reveal the distinct reaction pathways under CO2 and CO2/O2 gas.