Binder‐Free and Carbon‐Free 3D Porous Air Electrode for Li‐O2 Batteries with High Efficiency, High Capacity, and Long Life. Issue 22 (27th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, Wen‐Bin; Gao, Xuan‐Wen; Shi, Dong‐Qi; Chou, Shu‐Lei; Wang, Jia‐Zhao; Liu, Hua‐Kun
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 12:Issue 22(2016)
• Page Start: 3031
• Page End: 3038
• Publication Date: 2016-04-27
• Subjects: Li‐O2 batteries -- oxygen reduction reaction -- polycrystalline thin films -- PtGd alloys -- pulsed laser deposition; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201600699
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract : Pt‐Gd alloy polycrystalline thin film is deposited on 3D nickel foam by pulsed laser deposition method serving as a whole binder/carbon‐free air electrode, showing great catalytic activity enhancement as an efficient bifunctional catalyst for the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions in lithium oxygen batteries. The porous structure can facilitate rapid O2 and electrolyte diffusion, as well as forming a continuous conductive network throughout the whole energy conversion process. It shows a favorable cycle performance in the full discharge/charge model, owing to the high catalytic activity of the Pt‐Gd alloy composite and 3D porous nickel foam structure. Specially, excellent cycling performance under capacity limited mode is also demonstrated, in which the terminal discharge voltage is higher than 2.5 V and the terminal charge voltage is lower than 3.7 V after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.1 mA cm −2 . Therefore, this electrocatalyst is a promising bifunctional electrocatalyst for lithium oxygen batteries and this depositing high‐efficient electrocatalyst on porous substrate with polycrystalline thin film by pulsed laser deposition is also a promising technique in the future lithium oxygen batteries research. Abstract : Pt‐Gd alloy polycrystalline thin film is deposited on 3D nickel foam using as a whole binder/carbon‐free air electrode. Because of the highly efficient Pt‐Gd alloy synergistic catalyst activity and its special polycrystalline structure, it shows great catalytic activity enhancement as an efficient bifunctional catalyst in lithium oxygen batteries. The porous reaction product, coral‐like Li2 O2 array, not only contributes to facile reversibility in the charge process, resulting in a low overpotential, but would also be of benefit for the cycling performance.