Large pore volume CNT-based Li-O2 battery with Li-Nafion solid polymer electrolyte

• A developed architecture of a SPE-LOB positive electrode is engineered. • The impacts of active material, electrolyte and Li-Nafion/C ratio are studied. • SPE-LOB surpasses liquid electrolyte LOB in terms of capacity and cyclability. Developed architecture for a lithium-oxygen battery (LOB) positive electrode based on carbon nanotubes with large-volume pores and a Li-Nafion solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) is engineered. At a Li-Nafion/C ratio of 0.2, a discharge capacity of up to 27000 mA h g −1 achieved. SPE-LOB sustains 182 cycles as compared to 121 cycles for LOB with liquid electrolyte. The high characteristics of the SPE-LOB can be explained in terms of the prevention of the flooding of gas pores, decrease in the ohmic resistance of the system and formation of independent transfer channels of O 2 and Li + .