ИСТИНА

One of the key problems hindering practical implementation of lithium-air batteries is caused by carbon cathode chemical instability leading to low energy efficiency and short cycle life. Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) plays a key role in lithium air batteries (LABs) that attract great attention thanks to their high theoretical specific energy several times exceeding that of lithium-ion batteries. Because of their high surface area, high electric conductivity, and low specific weight, various carbons are often materials of choice for applications as the LAB cathode. Unfortunately, the possibility of practical application of such batteries is still under question as the sustainable operation of LABs with carbon cathodes is not demonstrated yet and the cyclability is quite poor, which is usually associated with oxygen reduced species side reactions. Titanium carbide (TiC) nanopowders are considered as an alternative cathode material, however, they are intrinsically reactive towards oxygen and its stability is controlled totally by a surface overlayers.