Effects of Porous Carbon and CNTs on the Discharge Performance of Li-Air Batteries

In Li/air batteries, the discharge process and capacity are closely related to the composition of air electrode. Carbon is the main component of air electrode and therefore its intrinsic properties will affect the performance of batteries. It has been found that the discharge product was epiphytic on carbon surface during discharge, and the large mesopores (> 30 nm) or macropores in the carbon were the response site of discharge reaction where the discharge product was stored. These have also been confirmed by comparison with ideal electrode composed of carbon nanotubes (CNTs).