Activating reversible carbonate reactions in Nasicon solid electrolyte-based Na-air battery via in-situ formed catholyte

Abstract

Out of practicality, ambient air rather than oxygen is preferred as a fuel in electrochemical systems, but CO₂ and H₂O present in air cause severe irreversible reactions, such as the formation of carbonates and hydroxides, which typically degrades performance. Herein, we report on a Na-air battery enabled by a reversible carbonate reaction (Na₂CO₃·xH₂O, x = 0 or 1) in Nasicon solid electrolyte (Na₃Zr₂Si₂PO₁₂) that delivers a much higher discharge potential of 3.4 V than other metal-air batteries resulting in high energy density and achieves > 86 % energy efficiency at 0.1 mA cm⁻² over 100 cycles. This cell design takes advantage of moisture in ambient air to form an in-situ catholyte via the deliquescent property of NaOH. As a result, not only reversible electrochemical reaction of Na₂CO₃·xH₂O is activated but also its kinetics is facilitated. Our results demonstrate the reversible use of free ambient air as a fuel, enabled by the reversible electrochemical reaction of carbonates with a solid electrolyte.

Metal-air batteries, operated in ambient air, suffer from irreversible redox reactions, limiting their energy density. Herein, the authors present a solid electrolyte-based sodium-air battery with a reversible carbonate reaction, facilitated by the in-situ formed catholyte enabled by moisture.