A revised O2 reduction model in Li-O2 batteries as revealed by in situ small angle X-ray scattering

Electrodepositing insulating and insoluble Li2O2 is the key process during discharge of aprotic Li-O2 batteries and determines rate, capacity, and reversibility. Current understanding states that the partition between surface adsorbed and solvated LiO2 governs whether Li2O2 grows as surface film, leading to low capacity even at low rates, or in solution, leading to particles and high capacities. Here we show that Li2O2 forms to the widest extent as particles via solution mediated LiO2 disproportionation. We describe a unified Li2O2 growth model that conclusively explains capacity limitations across the whole range of electrolytes. Deciding for particle morphology, achievable rate and capacities are species mobilities, electrode specific surface area (determining true areal rate) and the concentration distribution of associated LiO2 in solution. Provided that species mobilities and surface are high, high, capacities are possible even with low-donor-number electrolytes, previously considered prototypical for low capacity via surface growth. The tools for these insights are microscopy, hydrodynamic voltammetry, a numerical reaction model, and in situ small/wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS). Combined with sophisticated data analysis, SAXS allows retrieving rich quantitative information from complex multi-phase systems. On a wider perspective, this SAXS method is a powerful in situ metrology with atomic to sub-micron resolution to study mechanisms in complex electrochemical systems and beyond.