Sampson Lau

Cornell University | CU · Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

We study the relationship between Li₂O₂ morphology and the electrochemical performance of the Li–O₂ battery using a combination of experiment and theory. Experimental Li–O₂ battery discharge curves are accurately captured by a theoretical model in which electrode performance is limited by the nucleation and growth of discrete Li₂O₂ nanostructures i...

Metal–air batteries, especially lithium and sodium air technologies, have attracted significant research attention in the past decade. The high theoretical specific energy (3500 Wh kg−1 for Li–O2 and 1600 Wh kg−1 for Na–O2) and moderate equilibrium potential (2.96 V for Li–O2 and 2.3 V for Na–O2) make these chemistries attractive energy storage pla...

Research on sodium–oxygen batteries has gained unprecedented momentum in recent times. With a high theoretical specific energy of 1600 W h kg−1 and an equilibrium discharge potential of 2.3 V, a rechargeable sodium–oxygen battery embodies an attractive new metal–air battery platform for applications in transportation. As an earth-abundant element,...

An electrochemical cell based on the reversible oxygen reduction reaction: 2Li+ + 2e - + O2↔ Li2O2, provides among the most energy dense platforms for portable electrical energy storage. Such Lithium-Oxygen (Li-O2) cells offer specific energies competitive with fossil fuels and are considered promising for electrified transportation. Multiple, fun...

The chemistry of the discharge products of metal–oxygen batteries is related to the battery's efficiency but knowledge of their formation mechanism is incomplete.

Metal–air batteries, especially lithium and sodium air technologies, have attracted significant research attention in the past decade. The high theoretical specific energy (3500 Wh kg −1 for Li–O 2 and 1600 Wh kg −1 for Na–O 2) and moderate equilibrium potential (2.96 V for Li–O 2 and 2.3 V for Na–O 2) make these chemistries attractive energy stora...

The aprotic Li–O2 battery offers a vast improvement in theoretical energy density up to ten times that of current Li-ion batteries, but still suffers from shortcomings in cell and material design. Some of these shortcomings stem from the large gap in understanding between fundamental studies and cell cycling experiments. In particular, it is known...

Li/O 2 batteries are of contemporary interest because of their high theoretical gravimetric energy density of ~11 kWh/kg. However, several factors limit the cell’s discharge depth and rechargeability. Commonly cited factors include transport of oxygen to the cathode surface, pore clogging, and charge transport, but current literature lacks consensu...