Interrogating Lithium-Oxygen Battery Reactions And Chemistry With Isotope-Labeling Techniques: A Mini Review

Various advanced characterization technologies have been employed to obtain a mechanistic understanding and then to improve the electrochemical performance of the aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries. Among these characterization techniques, isotope labeling has proven to be a particularly powerful technique. Here, we review the current status of the fundamental understanding of the reactions and chemistry occurring in Li-O-2 batteries using the isotope-labeling techniques, with emphasis placed on the formation mechanism of product species (e.g., Li2O2, LiOH, and Li2CO3) and the identification of reaction interfaces (e.g., cathodelLi(2)O(2) and Li(2)O(2)lelectrolyte interfaces). We call for the isotope-labeling-related kinetic analysis, e.g., kinetic isotope effect, to shed light on several controversial issues that remain elusive to date.