In situ construction of glass-fiber-directed zeolite microtube woven separator for ultra-high-capacity lithium-oxygen batteries

Summary

The major challenge in developing lithium-oxygen (Li-O₂) batteries is the accumulation of insulated discharge products at the cathode, which would block the diffusion of oxygen and the transfer of electrons. Herein, inspired by self-assembling biomineral tissues, an ammonium bromide-modified zeolite microtube woven-fabric (NH₄ZMT WF) separator is developed using a precursor-scaffold/solid-phase-crystallization strategy, which greatly improves the discharge capacity of the Li-O₂ batteries. By combining the capture and conversion steps, the NH₄ZMT WF separator is capable of extending the discharge reaction region to the separator. According to the Pearson acid-base concept, the hardness of ZMT WF surface-modified cations affects the formation mechanism of discharge products. The Li-O₂ batteries with a NH₄ZMT WF separator exhibit a capacity greater than 25,000 mAh g⁻¹ and a prolonged cyclability of over 4,000 h. This encouraging performance offers broad prospects for practical Li-O₂ batteries.