The University of Surrey, Imperial College London and Peking University have developed an innovative mechanism that accelerates the creation of catalysts for lithium-CO2 (Li-CO2) batteries. This is a significant breakthrough for carbon capture batteries, cutting costs while offering innovative solutions to curb harmful emissions.
Currently, the techniques utilized in producing catalysts for Li-CO2 batteries are time-consuming and ineffective, obstructing their feasibility in the market. This combined project intends to overcome these obstacles and form a path toward battery manufacturing that is efficient and economical while serving the purpose of storing energy and curbing carbon emissions.
Dr Kai Yang, a co-author of this research and co-leader of the project, explained that the team has developed a state-of-the-art electrochemical testing platform in the form of a lab-on-a-chip.
This is capable of performing multiple tasks simultaneously. It assists in the examination of electrocatalysts, the optimization of operational conditions and the estimation of CO2 conversion in Li-CO2 batteries with high performance. This pioneering is more cost-friendly, efficient and manageable compared to mainstream methods for producing these materials.
During the study, the research team applied the newly developed tool to assess the compatibility of numerous elements, prominently platinum, gold, silver, copper, iron, and nickel, to create high-performance Li-CO2 batteries.
Based on Dr Yunlong Zhao, the primary author of this research and a senior professor at Imperial College London, this creative approach will allow an immediate evaluation of catalysts, studies of reaction mechanisms, and their implementation in various fields, from nanosciences to advanced carbon removal technologies.
