This Faraday discussion will be a hybrid event, allowing participation both in person and online.
Welcome
Join us in York, or online, in September 2023 for this addition to our Faraday Discussion series. For over 100 years and 300 meetings, Faraday Discussions have been the forefront of physical chemistry. Many of these Discussions have become landmark meetings in their field.This meeting is for established and early-career scientists, post-graduate students and industrial researchers interested in rechargeable non-aqueous metal–oxygen cells.
Given the intensive worldwide research efforts over the past decade in these cells and the resulting improvements in fundamental understanding of the associated electrochemistry and chemistry, the unique format of the Faraday Discussions will allow for in-depth discussions of the major challenges that must be overcome to bring this technology into practical application.
The meeting will bring together the wide range of scientists working on metal–oxygen batteries and allow opportunities to establish new collaborations.
On behalf of our committee, we look forward to welcoming you to York, or if you are joining us virtually, online.
Laurence Hardwick
Chair
Format of the Discussion
Faraday Discussions have a special format where primary research papers written by the speakers are distributed to all participants before the meeting, and most of the meeting is devoted to discussing the papers. All delegates at the meeting, not just speakers, have the opportunity to make comments, ask questions, or present complementary or contradictory measurements and calculations during the discussion sessions. In addition, there is a dedicated poster session where further discussion takes place. The research papers and a record of the discussion are published in the journal Faraday Discussions.Find out more about the Faraday Discussions in the video.
Themes
Metal–oxygen batteries have the potential to exceed the stored energy of today’s most advanced lithium-ion cells. However, their recharge and cyclability efficiency pose a major challenge to bringing this technology into practical application, as does improving our fundamental understanding of the electrochemistry and chemistry inside the cell. Li–O2 and Na–O2 are the most reported types of metal–oxygen cells but there has also been much recent work on K, Ca and Mg–O2 systems in non-aqueous electrolytes, which present different challenges and opportunities in terms of the stability and safety of the metal electrode. A critical examination of the state-of-play of metal–oxygen batteries is required to identify the major obstacles that remain in developing practical systems.The Discussion will focus on the following four themes:
Mechanism of ORR and OER in non-aqueous electrolytes
ORR/OER (oxygen reduction/evolution reaction) mechanisms in non-aqueous electrolytes are sensitive to solvent choice, salt, temperature, electrode substrate, generation of singlet oxygen and water content. Discussion in this section will focus on understanding ORR and OER using fundamental or well-characterised electrode systems, and the use of redox mediators and how to obtain high coulombic and charge–discharge efficiencies.
Materials for stable metal–oxygen battery cathodes
This session will cover the development and characterisation of practical cathodes and understanding how to generate reversible reactions within and upon applied electrode architectures. Key discussion points will include material interface design, morphology of cathode materials, the use of carbon as an electrode substrate, reproducible cell testing and chemical and electrochemical characterisation techniques.
Metal anodes and protected interfaces
Major issues around safety, reversible stripping and plating and dendrite formation have been known for some metal anodes for over 30 years. Key challenges in the field include developing stable anode–electrolyte interfaces and solid electrolytes. Discussion will cover dendrite prevention, solid-state coatings and electrolytes, as well as how to achieve a stable solid–electrolyte interphase and minimise side reactions.
Towards practical metal–oxygen batteries
This session will discuss state-of-the-art metal–oxygen cells in terms of cyclability and durability. Key discussion points will include the metrics required at a materials level to obtain competitive performance with state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries.
