Dilithium phthalocyanine as a catalyst for oxygen reduction in non-aqueous<font>Li-O</font>₂cells

Abstract

The electrochemical performance of Li-O 2 cells depends mainly on the kinetics of the cathode reaction, namely, oxygen reduction reaction in non-aqueous electrolytes. The catalyst plays an important role on the kinetics of the reaction. In the present work, dilithium phthalocyanine is used as the catalyst in the cathode of Li-O 2 cells. Dual-layer O 2 electrodes are fabricated employing a high surface area microporous carbon with Ni gauge current collector present between the two layers. Discharge capacity of Li-O 2 cell measured at 0.2 mA.cm -2 is about 30 mAh.cm -2 . Phthalocyanine ring is considered to interact with O 2 producing Li 2 Pc +δ - O 2 -δ as a reaction intermediate, which facilitates the electron-transfer reaction.