Non-aqueous electrolyte li-air batteries

The non-aqueous electrolyte Li-air batteries are ideally based on a reversible redox reaction of Eq. 4. 

As shown by Eqs. 1 and 5, the ORRs in the aqueous alkaline electrolyte and in the non-aqueous electrolyte share the same two-electron reduction. This means that all catalysts showing the catalytic activity towards the ORR in alkaline fuel cells and metal-air batteries are theoretically suitable for the non-aqueous electrolyte Li-air batteries. Base on the chemical composition of the materials, these catalysts can be briefly classified into the following categories (1) porous carbon and doped carbon materials, (2) transition metal oxides, nitrides, and sulfides, (3) marcocyclic transition metal complexes, (4) non-precious metals and alloys, (5) precious metals and alloys, (6) organic redox mediators. 

Zhang SS, Ren XM, Read J (2011) Heat-treated metal phthalocyanine complex as an oxygen reduction catalyst for non-aqueous electrolyte Li/air batteries. Electrochim Acta 56(12) 4544-4548... 

We discuss below recent progress made in aqueous electrolyte metal/air batteries, non-aqueous electrolyte Li/air batteries and Li/water batteries. These areas have advanced more than the others in recent years. 

FIGURE 4.14 Models of the reaction zones for the ORR. (a) a "triple phase boundary" for aqueous electrolyte metal-air battery and PEMFC and (b) a "two-phase boimdary" for non-aqueous electrolyte Li-air battery. Reprinted from Ref. [170], with permission from Elsevier. 

Finally, fundamental understanding of the trends for the oxygen reduction reaction in aprotic solvents [174] is very important for the development of advanced catalysts for non-aqueous electrolyte Li/air batteries. 

Fig. 4 Schematic stmcture of Li-air batteries, a Non-aqueous electrolyte system, and b aqueous electrolyte system...

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