Researchers from China, Germany, and Portugal discovered that a trilayered nanomembrane greatly enhances the properties of Li–O₂ batteries. With a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 86%, a stable cycling performance for 269 cycles, and a charge overpotential as low as 0.2 V, the batteries show promising properties for the application in low-emission electric vehicles.

Li–O₂ batteries have a high energy density, which makes them suitable to improve the driving range of low-emission electric vehicles. However, in conventional devices, the cycling stability and PCE of these batteries is low. The reason for this poor performance lies in a high overpotential due to insoluble Li₂O₂, which is formed during discharging and interferes with the battery architecture.

In their recent approach, Xueyi Lu et al. introduce a Pd/MnO_x/Pd nanomembrane onto the cathode. This shields the cathode from Li₂O₂ and catalyzes its removal during charging. The membrane components Pd and MnO_x synergistically catalyze the processes that occur during recharging of the battery. The oxygen vacancies in the membrane facilitate binding of intermediate structures during the decomposition of Li₂O₂ and the Pd components accelerate electron transport. The nanomembrane is fabricated by rolled-up technology, which results in a higher tolerance to stress cracking during charge–discharge cycles. Further, the decrease of active sites due to aggregation is avoided, since the nanomembranes consist of grains instead of nanoparticles.