Electrochemical properties of room temperature sodium-air batteries with non-aqueous electrolyte

A novel type of rechargeable sodium-air battery working at room temperature is constructed and examined for the first time. The typical gravimetric capacities of the air electrodes (diamond-like carbon thin films) are 1884 mAh/g (565 mu Ah/cm(2)) at 1/10 C and 3600 mAh/g (1080 mu Ah/cm(2)) at 1/60 C. respectively, which are significantly superior to intercalation-based cathode materials for rechargeable sodium or lithium batteries ever reported. The electrochemical reaction of the sodium-air battery is investigated. The high reversible capacity and relevant high output voltage (about 2.3 V) of the room temperature sodium-air battery make it a potential alternative battery in the future. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.