Potassium-Oxygen Batteries Based on Potassium Superoxide

摘要

Potassium-oxygen (K—O₂) batteries based on potassium superoxide (KO₂) are provided. The K—O₂ batteries can exhibit high specific energy a low discharge/charge potential gap (e.g., a discharge/charge potential gap of less than 50 mV at a current density of 0.16 mA/cm²) without the use of any catalysts. The discharge product of the K—O₂ batteries is K—O₂, which is both kinetically stable and thermodynamically stable. As a consequence of the stability of the discharge product, the K—O₂ batteries can exhibit improved operational stability relative to other metal-air batteries.