High-Performance Li-CO₂ Battery Based on Carbon-Free Porous Ru@QNFs Cathode

Lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO2) batteries have attracted much attention due to their high theoretical energy density. However, due to the existance of lithium carbonate and amorphous carbon in the discharge products that are difficult to decompose, the battery shows low coulombic efficiency and poor cycle performance. Here, by adjusting the adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) on ruthenium (Ru) catalysts surface, this work reports an ultralow charge overpotential and long cycle life Li-CO2 battery that consists of typical lithium metal, ternary molten salt electrolyte (TMSE), and Ru-based cathode. Experimental results show that the Ru catalysts deposited on quartz nanofiber (QF) can suppress the four-electron conversion of CO2 to lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). As a result, the battery shows a long-cycle-life of over 457 cycles at 1.0 A g(-1) with a limited capacity of 500 mAh g(Ru)(-1). Remarkably, a recorded low discharge potential of approximate to 3.0 V has been achieved after 35 cycles at 0.5 A g(-1), with a charge potential retention of over 99%. Moreover, the battery can operate over 25 A g(-1) and recover 96% potential. This battery technology paves the way for designing high-performance rechargeable Li-CO2 batteries with carbon neutrality.