Stability of solvents against superoxide radical species for the electrolyte of lithium-air battery

Abstract

The addition of potassium superoxide (KO2) into the electrolyte for Li-air battery was proved to be an effective screening method to examine the stability of the solvents against superoxide anion radicals (O2?). It was also confirmed that the coupled compound between Li+ and O2?, namely LiO2, was highly reactive for many solvents to decompose themselves. Specific ionic liquid and dimethylsulfoxide, selected solvents by the KO2 screening test, actually performed stable operation of Li-air battery. © 2012 The Electrochemical Society.