Recent progress of transition metal-based catalysts as cathodes in O2/H2O-involved and pure Li-CO2 batteries

The combination of clean energy storage and reducing CO2 emissions is an effective strategy to meet the growing energy demands and achieve a sustainable route. Consequently, Li-CO2 batteries have received extensive attention, which is ascribed to their dual functions of energy storage and CO2 capture. Nevertheless, the development and utilization of Li-CO2 batteries are still in their infancy and face considerable challenges, such as high polarization, cathode inactivation, and environmental sensitivity. Thus, it is necessary to fully understand the reaction mechanism of Li-CO2 batteries, explore the catalytic capabilities, crucial functions and influencing factors of various catalytic cathodes, and formulate corresponding modification measures to achieve high-performance Li-CO2 batteries. In this review, we systematically introduce the electrochemical reaction mechanism of O-2-involved, H2O-involved and pure Li-CO2 batteries, and then systematically introduce the latest research progress of transition metal-based catalysts, including their composition and structure, and the corresponding effects on their electrochemical performance. Based on a comprehensive overview of the current research progress, we present perspectives and directions for the exploration of Li-CO2 batteries and further provide guidance for the future development and practical utilization of Li-CO2 batteries.

Automated summary

The combination of clean energy storage and reducing CO2 emissions is an effective strategy to meet the growing energy demands and achieve a sustainable route. However, the development and utilization of Li-CO2 batteries still face challenges such as high polarization, cathode inactivation, and environmental sensitivity. Thus, it is necessary to fully understand the reaction mechanism of Li-CO2 batteries, explore the catalytic capabilities and crucial functions of various cathodes, and formulate modification measures to achieve high-performance Li-CO2 batteries.