Research on B/N-doped graphene aerogel paper cathode for Li-oxygen batteries

Abstract

Lithium-oxygen batteries have drawn many attentions as a next generation battery due to its high specific energy density. Direct usage of lithium metal and atmospheric oxygen as an active species, however, brings many challenges to lithium-oxygen batteries. Some of the main challenges we face are cycle life and overpotential of the cathode. There have been many attempts to find the solution to this problem by utilizing carbon materials due to its cheap and various morphology characteristics. Graphene aerogel has drawn attention as a low density porous carbon material but the limitations in fabrication has been the major problem. In this research, we have used boron and nitrogen doping in a one-pot synthesis to improve the electrochemical characteristics of graphene aerogel. Also, fragmentation and reassembly of graphene aerogel has been proposed as a new fabrication method for graphene aerogel cathode. B/N-doped graphene aerogel has shown high capacity and excellent cycle life in Li-oxygen battery application.