Issue

Vol. 18 (2026)

Chirality-Induced Suppression of Singlet Oxygen in Lithium–Oxygen Batteries with Extended Cycle Life

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01885-z
Kyunghee Chae
Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae‑Gil, Seodaemun‑Gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
Youngbi Kim
Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
Yookyeong Oh
Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae‑Gil, Seodaemun‑Gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
Hosik Hahn
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak‑Ro, Gwanak‑Gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Jaehyun Son
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei‑Ro Seodaemun‑Gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
Youngsin Kim
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak‑Ro, Gwanak‑Gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Hyuk‑Joon Kim
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak‑Ro, Gwanak‑Gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Hyun Jeong Lee
Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae‑Gil, Seodaemun‑Gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
Dohyub Jang
Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), 5 Hwarang‑Ro 14‑Gil, Seongbuk‑Gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
Jooho Moon
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei‑Ro Seodaemun‑Gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
Kisuk Kang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak‑Ro, Gwanak‑Gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Jeong Woo Han
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak‑Ro, Gwanak‑Gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Filipe Marques Mota
Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK
Dong Ha Kim
Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae‑Gil, Seodaemun‑Gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea

Corresponding Author: Dong Ha Kim

dhkim@ewha.ac.kr

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 40

Abstract

Lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries are perceived as a promising breakthrough in sustainable electrochemical energy storage, utilizing ambient air as an energy source, eliminating the need for costly cathode materials, and offering the highest theoretical energy density (~ 3.5 kWh kg–1) among discussed candidates. Contributing to the poor cycle life of currently reported Li–O2 cells is singlet oxygen (1O2) formation, inducing parasitic reactions, degrading key components, and severely deteriorating cell performance. Here, we harness the chirality-induced spin selectivity effect of chiral cobalt oxide nanosheets (Co3O4 NSs) as cathode materials to suppress 1O2 in Li–O2 batteries for the first time. Operando photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals a 3.7-fold and 3.23-fold reduction in 1O2 during discharge and charge, respectively, compared to conventional carbon paper-based cells, consistent with differential electrochemical mass spectrometry results, which indicate a near-theoretical charge-to-O2 ratio (2.04 e−/O2). Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that chirality induces a peak shift near the Fermi level, enhancing Co 3d–O 2p hybridization, stabilizing reaction intermediates, and lowering activation barriers for Li2O2 formation and decomposition. These findings establish a new strategy for improving the stability and energy efficiency of sustainable Li–O2 batteries, abridging the current gap to commercialization.


Highlights:
1 Chiral cobalt oxide nanosheets (Co3O4 NSs) suppress singlet oxygen (1O2) generation in Li–O2 batteries via the CISS effect.
2 Operando spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations confirm reduced parasitic reactions and enhanced oxygen electrochemistry.
3 This strategy improves energy efficiency and cycle life, offering a path toward stable, high-performance Li–O2 batteries.

Keywords

Singlet oxygen suppression Chirality-induced spin selectivity effect Lithium–oxygen batteries Oxygen evolution reaction Battery stability
Chae, Kyunghee, Youngbi Kim, Yookyeong Oh, Hosik Hahn, Jaehyun Son, Youngsin Kim, Hyuk‑Joon Kim, Hyun Jeong Lee, Dohyub Jang, Jooho Moon, Kisuk Kang, Jeong Woo Han, Filipe Marques Mota, and Dong Ha Kim. 2025. “Chirality-Induced Suppression of Singlet Oxygen in Lithium–Oxygen Batteries With Extended Cycle Life”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (August):40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01885-z.
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