English

DTIC ADA622171: Nitrogen-Doped Carbon as a Cathode Material for Lithium-air Batteries (Postprint)

Lithium-air batteries are among the most promising high energy density electrochemical power sources anticipated to impact future battery technologies. The performance of the cathode in these batteries is a major limiting factor in optimizing the power output of lithium-air batteries. To enhance the performance of the cathode, we investigated incorporating nitrogen in carbon to increase the oxygen reduction reaction activity. Nitrogen doped carbon catalysts were synthesized through chemical treatment of carbon powder with nitrogen. Various techniques like nitrogen adsorption, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis were employed to characterize nitrogen functionality on carbon. The electrochemical behavior of nitrogen doped carbon and commercial carbon for oxygen reduction was examined in 0.1 M KOH using cyclic voltammetry. These studies indicate that the nitrogen functionality on carbon significantly improves the electro-catalytic activity of cathode for oxygen reduction.

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