Boosting the Cycle Life of Aprotic Li–O₂ Batteries via a Photo‐Assisted Hybrid Li₂O₂‐Scavenging Strategy

Abstract

Abstract The development of the nonaqueous Li–O 2 battery, a promising candidate for high‐gravimetric‐energy‐storage techniques, is seriously restrained by the high charge overpotential during electrochemical decomposition of insulating Li 2 O 2 . Benefiting from the photovoltage, photo‐assisted charging is revealed as a feasible method to reduce the charge potential. However, a long period of illumination will inevitably aggravate the degradation of the electrolyte. Herein, composed of contact‐ion‐pairs (CIPs), a newly introduced superconcentrated electrolyte presents superior stability against parasitic photocatalytic decomposition. More significantly, the conventional and photo‐assisted charging processes are rationally integrated as a unique hybrid strategy, in which the highly polarized charging stage is replaced by the photo‐assisted Li 2 O 2 ‐scavenging process. By tuning the photocatalysis and Li 2 O 2 electrochemical oxidization, the hybrid Li 2 O 2 ‐scavenging strategy not only boosts the cycle life of rechargeable Li–O 2 batteries but also opens possibilities in designing photocatalysis‐involved rechargeable energy‐storage battery systems.