RECHARGEABLE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM HAVING SEPARATOR COATED WITH OXYGEN STORAGE CATALYST

A method for forming a battery cell in a rechargeable energy storage system includes providing a cathode and an anode, the cathode incorporating a lithium metal phosphate. The method includes positioning a separator between the cathode and the anode, the separator having an anode-facing side and a cathode-facing side. The method includes applying a catalyst layer composed of an oxygen storage catalyst on the cathode-facing side of the separator such that the catalyst layer continuously coats the cathode-facing side of the separator. The oxygen storage catalyst has an oxygen-capturing ability at or above a threshold temperature, the oxygen storage catalyst has an oxygen-retention ability at or above the threshold temperature and the threshold temperature is at least 200 degrees Celsius.