Novel DMSO-based electrolyte for high performance rechargeable Li-O2 batteries

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Rechargeable lithium-O(2) (Li-O(2)) batteries offer high theoretical energy density.
• Developing stable and efficient electrolytes is crucial for Li-O(2) battery advancement.
• Current electrolytes face challenges like poor cycle life and high overpotentials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and investigate a novel dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) based electrolyte for Li-O(2) batteries.
• To evaluate the electrochemical performance of Li-O(2) cells using the proposed DMSO electrolyte.
• To demonstrate the potential of DMSO-based electrolytes in improving battery efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Electrolyte preparation using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a primary solvent.
• Assembly of rechargeable lithium-O(2) coin cells.
• Electrochemical testing including galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• The DMSO-based electrolyte demonstrated superior performance in Li-O(2) batteries.
• High discharge capacity was achieved with the novel electrolyte.
• Significantly low charge potential was observed, indicating reduced energy loss during recharging.

Conclusions:

• Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a viable and effective component for rechargeable Li-O(2) battery electrolytes.
• The proposed electrolyte formulation leads to enhanced battery performance metrics.
• This work opens new avenues for developing high-performance Li-O(2) batteries.