Dissociation of (Li2O2)0,+ on graphene and boron-doped graphene: insights from first-principles calculations

Nanocatalysis in cathode pre-lithiation for lithium-ion batteries: progress and challenges

Pre-lithiation, which is capable of supplying additional active lithium sources to lithium-ion batteries, has been widely accepted as one of the most promising approaches for addressing the issue of active lithium loss during the entire process of initial charging and subsequent cycling. In comparison with anode pre-lithiation, cathode pre-lithiation exhibits a facile operating procedure and good compatibility with current lithium-ion battery production processes. However, cathode pre-lithiation additives suffer from high decomposition voltage and low decomposition efficiency. In view of this, a variety of nanocatalysts have been developed in recent years to enhance the decomposition kinetics of cathode pre-lithiation additives. Nevertheless, a comprehensive review of nanocatalysis in cathode pre-lithiation is still lacking. This timely review aims to present the crucial role of nanocatalysis in cathode pre-lithiation and provide an up-to-date overview of this field. After demonstrating the significance of nanocatalysts for cathode pre-lithiation, recent progress in the application of nanocatalysts for high-efficiency cathode pre-lithiation is briefly introduced. Finally, future challenges and directions for the commercialization of the cathode pre-lithiation technique in conjunction with nanocatalysts are reviewed. The current review provides important insights into nanocatalysis as a cutting-edge strategy for favorable cathode pre-lithiation and builds a bridge between academic research and industrial applications of nanocatalytic cathode pre-lithiation for lithium-ion batteries with high capacity and good cyclability.

Metal and Coordinating Atoms Synergistically Achieve High Activity and Stability in Single-Atom Catalysts within the Framework of TM-N3X for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction of Lithium Peroxide

A critical challenge in the advancement of lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) is the difficulty in decomposing lithium peroxide, leading to high charge overpotentials and poor cycling stability. Single-atom catalysts (SACs), known for their ultrahigh catalytic activity in various electrochemical reactions, are expected to enhance the kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for LOBs. Herein, 24 SACs within the framework of TM-N3X have been designed and optimized for the OER of lithium peroxide. First-principles calculations reveal that the doped non-metal atom (X = B, C, O, or P) significantly contributes to the structural stability of the SACs while the metal atom (TM = Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd, or Pt) significantly influences the catalytic activity of the SACs. Upon evaluation of their stability and catalytic activity, the Pt-N3B and Pd-N3B catalysts have been identified as promising candidates for the OER of lithium peroxide, with theoretical charge overpotentials of 0.19 and 0.18 V, respectively. This work provides new guidance for the design of efficient SACs for LOBs and inspires a fundamental understanding of the underlying structure-activity relationship.

Status Quo on Graphene Electrode Catalysts for Improved Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions in Li-Air Batteries

Reduced global warming is the goal of carbon neutrality. Therefore, batteries are considered to be the best alternatives to current fossil fuels and an icon of the emerging energy industry. Voltaic cells are one of the power sources more frequently employed than photovoltaic cells in vehicles, consumer electronics, energy storage systems, and medical equipment. The most adaptable voltaic cells are lithium-ion batteries, which have the potential to meet the eagerly anticipated demands of the power sector. Working to increase their power generating and storage capability is therefore a challenging area of scientific focus. Apart from typical Li-ion batteries, Li-Air (Li-O₂) batteries are expected to produce high theoretical power densities (3505 W h kg^-1), which are ten times greater than that of Li-ion batteries (387 W h kg^-1). On the other hand, there are many challenges to reaching their maximum power capacity. Due to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OES), the cathode usually faces many problems. Designing robust structured catalytic electrode materials and optimizing the electrolytes to improve their ability is highly challenging. Graphene is a 2D material with a stable hexagonal carbon network with high surface area, electrical, thermal conductivity, and flexibility with excellent chemical stability that could be a robust electrode material for Li-O₂ batteries. In this review, we covered graphene-based Li-O₂ batteries along with their existing problems and updated advantages, with conclusions and future perspectives.