Chemistries that can demonstrate tolerance to both moisture and atmospheric carbon dioxide have the power to advance the technology readiness level of non-aqueous lithium air batteries. Previously published results have found that lithium iodide as redox mediator in dimethoxyethane solvent containing high water content affords reversible cycling of a lithium oxygen battery via lithium hydroxide^[1]. In collaboration with the authors of the previous work, this concept has been extended to explore additional redox mediators and alternative electrolyte mixtures. Quantitative oxygen evolution for the new chemistries was studied using continuous differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy. Oxygen evolution was found for some of the new chemistries employed. Faradaic efficiency for oxygen evolution and Tafel analysis shows complex behaviour. Discharge product analysis shows that some of the new chemistries which afford oxygen evolution also cycle via lithium hydroxide.

[1] Liu, et al. Science, 2015, 350, 6260, p530.