Mesoporous Cr2O3 nanotubes as an efficient catalyst for Li–O2 batteries with low charge potential and enhanced cyclic performance. Issue 20 (29th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xin-Zhen; Han, Da; He, Yan-Bing; Zhai, Deng-Yun; Liu, Dongqing; Du, Hongda; Li, Baohua; Kang, Feiyu
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 4:Issue 20(2016)
• Page Start: 7727
• Page End: 7735
• Publication Date: 2016-04-29
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ta00331a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : Hexagonal close packed Cr2 O3, fabricated by an electrospinning technique combined with a heating method, is adopted for the first time as a catalyst for non-aqueous lithium–oxygen (Li–O2 ) batteries. Abstract : Hexagonal close packed Cr2 O3, fabricated by an electrospinning technique combined with a heating method, is adopted for the first time as a catalyst for non-aqueous lithium–oxygen (Li–O2 ) batteries. The synthesized highly mesoporous Cr2 O3 nanotubes (Cr2 O3 -MNT) with a large surface area of 53.4 m 2 g −1 are confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), field emission high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms (BET). By using the prepared Super P (SP) (60 wt%)/Cr2 O3 (30 wt%)/polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) (10 wt%) composite as an oxygen electrode, the Li–O2 battery shows an astonishingly enhanced capacity of 8280 mA h g −1 at a current density of 50 mA g −1 . More encouragingly, when the current densities are fixed at 25, 50, 100 and 200 mA g −1 with a limited capacity of 500 mA h g −1, the charging potentials are 3.47, 3.51, 3.78 and 4.01 V, respectively, which are among the lowest charge potentials reported to date. By using a capacity-controlled method (1000 mA h g −1 ) at a current density of 100 mA g −1, the cell shows excellent cyclic stability up to 50 cycles. The reversible formation and dissociation of Li2 O2 are verified by X-ray diffusion (XRD) and SEM, indicating that the as-prepared Cr2 O3 nanotubes are a promising catalyst for Li–O2 batteries.