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.