A Quasi‐Solid‐State Flexible Fiber‐Shaped Li–CO2 Battery with Low Overpotential and High Energy Efficiency

A quasi‐solid‐state flexible fiber‐shaped Li–CO₂ battery with low overpotential and high energy efficiency is demonstrated, which exhibits great potential for becoming an advanced energy accessory for wearable electronics. The intermediate discharge product Li₂C₂O₄, stabilized by the flexible and free‐standing CNT/Mo₂C hybrid cathode, should be responsible for the excellent electrochemical performances of this Li–CO₂ battery.

Abstract

The rapid development of wearable electronics requires a revolution of power accessories regarding flexibility and energy density. The Li–CO₂ battery was recently proposed as a novel and promising candidate for next‐generation energy‐storage systems. However, the current Li–CO₂ batteries usually suffer from the difficulties of poor stability, low energy efficiency, and leakage of liquid electrolyte, and few flexible Li–CO₂ batteries for wearable electronics have been reported so far. Herein, a quasi‐solid‐state flexible fiber‐shaped Li–CO₂ battery with low overpotential and high energy efficiency, by employing ultrafine Mo₂C nanoparticles anchored on a carbon nanotube (CNT) cloth freestanding hybrid film as the cathode, is demonstrated. Due to the synergistic effects of the CNT substrate and Mo₂C catalyst, it achieves a low charge potential below 3.4 V, a high energy efficiency of ≈80%, and can be reversibly discharged and charged for 40 cycles. Experimental results and theoretical simulation show that the intermediate discharge product Li₂C₂O₄ stabilized by Mo₂C via coordinative electrons transfer should be responsible for the reduction of overpotential. The as‐fabricated quasi‐solid‐state flexible fiber‐shaped Li–CO₂ battery can also keep working normally even under various deformation conditions, giving it great potential of becoming an advanced energy accessory for wearable electronics.

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