Singlet Oxygen Formation during the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in DMSO LiTFSI on Lithium Air Battery Carbon Electrodes

Abstract

Abstract Formation of singlet oxygen, 1 O 2 , during the O 2 electroreduction reaction (ORR) on carbon electrode in Lithium bis‐(tri‐fluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) electrolyte has been detected “in‐operando” by fluorescence quenching of 9,10‐dimethylanthracene, DMA. Furthermore, the formation of 1 O 2 during ORR requires Li + ions, while in the presence of the efficient physical 1 O 2 quencher, sodium azide, DMA fluorescence quenching is negligible. Addition of Li + ions to superoxide solution in DMSO formed by ORR enhances DMA quenching, which is a proof that 1 O 2 results from superoxide bimolecular disproportionation.