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Detection of Electrochemical Reaction Products from the Sodium-Oxygen Cell with Solid-State 23Na NMR Spectroscopy
Zoë E M Reeve1, Christopher J Franko1, Kristopher J Harris1
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University , 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada.
Abstract:
23Na MAS NMR spectra of sodium-oxygen (Na-O2) cathodes reveals a combination of degradation species: newly observed sodium fluoride (NaF) and the expected sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), as well as the desired reaction product sodium peroxide (Na2O2). The initial reaction product, sodium superoxide (NaO2), is not present in a measurable quantity in the 23Na NMR spectra of the cycled electrodes. The reactivity of solid NaO2 is probed further, and NaF is found to be formed through a reaction between the electrochemically generated NaO2 and the electrode binder, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The instability of cell components in the presence of desired electrochemical reaction products is clearly problematic and bears further investigation.
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