Rouven Scheffler

TL;DR: XPS and isotope labeling coupled with differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) is used to show that small amounts of carbonates formed during discharge and charge of Li-O2 cells in ether electrolytes originate from reaction of Li2O2 both with the electrolyte and with the C cathode.

TL;DR: It is shown that past reports of traditional cathode electrocatalysis in nonaqueous Li-O(2) batteries were indeed true, but that gas evolution related to electrolyte solvent decomposition was the dominant process being catalyzed.

TL;DR: It is shown that rechargeability in the various electrolytes is limited both by chemical reaction of Li2O2 with the solvent and by electrochemical oxidation reactions during charging at potentials below the onset of electrolyte oxidation on an inert electrode.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors combine quantitative differential electrochemical mass spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry to probe possible mechanisms and the kinetic overpotentials responsible for discharge and charge in a Li-O2 battery, using C as the cathode and an electrolyte based on dimethoxyethane as the solvent.

TL;DR: It is suggested that minimizing the cell impedance is a more important problem than minimizing the kinetic overpotentials to develop higher current Li-air batteries.