Enabling shuttle-free of high concentration redox mediators by metal organic framework derivatives in lithium–oxygen batteries

High concentration LiBr is beneficial to enhance the Br − oxidation rate, displaying stable low voltage plateau during charging process for lithium–oxygen batteries . However, the sufficient cyclic performance is generally restricted by uncontrollable high level Br 3 − , resulting in the low energy efficiency and shuttle effect . Herein, a nanoreactor , red-ox mediators shuttling suppressor and lithium-metal protector with the combination of the high concentration and shuttle-free LiBr are successfully constructed by anchoring the Br 3 − to carbonized ZIF-8 supported on reduced graphene oxide substrate (ZC-rGO). ZnO-decorated/nitrogen-doped 3D carbon framework of ZC-rGO cathode can accurately capture Br 3 − by space confinement effects and/or chemisorption , which is beneficial to improve the oxidation of discharge products (Li 2 O 2 ) and avoid the anode corrosion. The Li–O 2 battery demonstrates enormous advantages of the RMs in comparation with the typical rGO-based batteries, such as better cycling performance (>90 cycles) and more stable overpotential (<1.0 V). The proposed strategy in this study opens up a new way of inhibiting the shuttle effect of RMs in Li–O 2 batteries and other halogen batteries.