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Three-dimensional graphene membrane cathode for high energy density rechargeable lithium-air batteries in ambient conditions

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Abstract

Lithium-air batteries have attracted significant interest for applications in high energy density mobile power supplies, yet there are considerable challenges to the development of rechargeable Li-air batteries with stable cycling performance under ambient conditions. Here we report a three-dimensional (3D) hydrophobic graphene membrane as a moisture-resistive cathode for high performance Li-air batteries. The 3D graphene membrane features a highly interconnected graphene network for efficient charge transport, a highly porous structure for efficient diffusion of oxygen and electrolyte ions, a large specific surface area for high capacity storage of the insulating discharge product, and a network of highly tortuous hydrophobic channels for O2/H2O selectivity. These channels facilitate O2 ingression while retarding moisture diffusion and ensure excellent charge/discharge cycling stability under ambient conditions. The membrane can thus enable robust Li-air batteries with exceptional performance, including a maximum cathode capacity that exceeds 5,700 mAh/g and excellent recharge cycling behavior (>2,000 cycles at 140 mAh/g, and >100 cycles at 1,400 mAh/g). The graphene membrane air cathode can deliver a lifetime capacity of 100,000–300,000 mAh/g, comparable to that of a typical lithium ion battery cathode. The stable operation of Li-air batteries with significantly improved single charge capacities and lifetime capacities comparable to those of Li-ion batteries may offer an attractive high energy density storage alternative for future mobile power supplies. These batteries may provide much longer battery lives and greatly reduced recharge frequency.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the support from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Science and Engineering through Award DE-SC0008055. We acknowledge Electron Imaging Center for Nanomachines (EICN) at UCLA for the support of TEM, supported with funding from NIHNCRR shared resources Grant (No. CJX1-443835-WS-29646) and NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant (No. CHE-0722519).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Xing Zhong, Benjamin Papandrea, Yuxi Xu, Zhaoyang Lin & Xiangfeng Duan

  2. California Nanosystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Yu Huang & Xiangfeng Duan

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Hua Zhang, Yuan Liu & Yu Huang

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  1. Xing Zhong
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  2. Benjamin Papandrea
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  3. Yuxi Xu
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  5. Hua Zhang
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  6. Yuan Liu
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  7. Yu Huang
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  8. Xiangfeng Duan
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Correspondence to Xiangfeng Duan.

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Three-dimensional graphene membrane cathode for high energy density rechargeable lithium-air batteries in ambient conditions

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Zhong, X., Papandrea, B., Xu, Y. et al. Three-dimensional graphene membrane cathode for high energy density rechargeable lithium-air batteries in ambient conditions. Nano Res. 10, 472–482 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-016-1306-4

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