Dilithium phthalocyanine as a catalyst for oxygen reduction in non-aqueousLi-O2cells

Abstract

The electrochemical performance of Li-O2cells depends mainly on the kinetics of the cathode reaction, namely, oxygen reduction reaction in non-aqueous electrolytes. The catalyst plays an important role on the kinetics of the reaction. In the present work, dilithium phthalocyanine is used as the catalyst in the cathode of Li-O2cells. Dual-layer O2electrodes are fabricated employing a high surface area microporous carbon with Ni gauge current collector present between the two layers. Discharge capacity of Li-O2cell measured at 0.2 mA.cm-2is about 30 mAh.cm-2. Phthalocyanine ring is considered to interact with O2producing Li2Pc+δ- O2-δas a reaction intermediate, which facilitates the electron-transfer reaction.