Recent progresses, challenges and perspectives on rechargeable Li‐O 2 batteries

Abstract

With fast development of portable electronics, electric/hybrid vehicles, and energy‐storage devices, it becomes quite urgent and necessary to fabricate next‐generation batteries with a much higher ability of energy storage. However, in the past decade, the widely applied intercalation‐deintercalation Li‐ion batteries were found to be limited by their theoretical energy densities and safety. Given the ultrahigh theoretical energy densities (about 3500 Wh kg −1 ), Li‐O 2 battery has emerged as a kind of promising energy storage and conversion devices. But the following issues need to be well addressed before use, including the low round‐trip efficiency, instability, and random growth of Li dendrite et al. A large number of efforts have been focused on improving its performance as well as making the reaction mechanisms clearer. This review mainly aims at providing readers with an understanding of recent progresses and challenges on rechargeable Li‐O 2 batteries. In this review, we introduce the fundamental structures and histories of Li‐O 2 batteries, and also summarize the strategies for material design and the widely accepted discharge/charge mechanisms. Finally, we will separately discuss the cathode, anode and electrolyte in constituents of a typical Li‐O 2 battery and give prospects to its future application.