Electrocatalysts for Li-air batteries

• Grant number: 11/21545-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fritz Cavalcante Huguenin
• Grantee: Fritz Cavalcante Huguenin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) depends on several parameters, such as particle size and distribution, nature of the solvent, electrolyte concentration, and overpotential, among others. Thus, these parameters will be controlled with a view to increasing the catalytic activity and, consequently, the energy storage capacity of Li-air batteries. The species formed on the electrodes will be investigated by means of the FTIR and EQCM techniques, since the products are insoluble in organic medium. On the basis of these data and those obtained from cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments, the kinetics of the oxygen ORR will be investigated, thereby enabling the proposal of a reaction mechanism in organic medium in the presence of lithium salts. Nanocomposites consisting of Pt and Au nanoparticles on carbon exhibit electrocatalytic properties for ORR and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in non-aqueous medium. However, the kinetics and reaction mechanism of these reactions have not been clarified yet, so these will be the target of this work. In addition, films based on carbon nanoparticles may also have a high catalytic activity for this reaction because of the formation of peroxides, which should enable their use in Li-air microbatteries. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GALIOTE, NELSON A.; DE AZEVEDO, DAYSE C.; OLIVEIRA, JR., OSVALDO N.; HUGUENIN, FRITZ. Investigating the Kinetic Mechanisms of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in a Nonaqueous Solvent. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, v. 118, n. 38, p. 21995-22002, SEP 25 2014. (12/21629-1, 11/12668-0, 11/21545-0)

GALIOTE, NELSON A.; JEONG, SANGSIK; MORAIS, WILLIAM G.; PASSERINI, STEFANO; HUGUENIN, FRITZ. The Role of Ionic Liquid in Oxygen Reduction Reaction for Lithium-air Batteries. Electrochimica Acta, v. 247, p. 610-616, SEP 1 2017. (11/12668-0, 11/21545-0, 14/15798-0)

GOMES, WELLINGTON J. A. S.; ARAUJO, DIOGENES M.; CARVALHO, ANTONIO J. F.; CAMPANA-FILHO, SERGIO P.; HUGUENIN, FRITZ. High Lithium Ion Electroinsertion Rate into Self-Assembled Films Formed from TiO2. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, v. 117, n. 33, p. 16774-16782, AUG 22 2013. (11/21545-0, 09/14181-1)

FACCI, TIAGO; GOMES, WELLINGTON J. A. S.; BRAVIN, BRUNO; ARAUJO, DIOGENES M.; HUGUENIN, FRITZ. Proton Electroinsertion in Self-Assembled Materials for Neutralization Pseudocapacitors. Langmuir, v. 30, n. 1, p. 426-431, JAN 14 2014. (12/21629-1, 11/21545-0)