Pluronic F127 as auxiliary template for preparing nitrogen and oxygen dual doped mesoporous carbon cathode of lithium-oxygen batteries. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Junwei; Liu, Yanchen; Cui, Yanhui; Ouyang, Jue; Baker, Andrew P.; Li, Zuohua; Zhang, Huayu
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics and chemistry of solids. Volume 113(2018)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 38
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Lithium-oxygen batteries -- Carbon foam -- Dual doping -- Cycle stability -- Ruthenium oxide; Solids -- Periodicals; Solides -- Périodiques; Solids; Periodicals; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpcs.2017.09.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3697

Abstract

Abstract: Two mesoporous carbon foam (MCF) with nitrogen and oxygen dual doped are fabricated through facile templated hydrothermal process. One using fumed silica as single template is named S-MCF, and another using fumed silica and Pluronic F127 as double templates is named D-MCF. When using Pluronic F127 as an auxiliary template, the D-MCF shows different porous architecture and surface chemical nature from S-MCF, thus they behave differently as cathode materials in Li-O2 batteries. The D-MCF electrode exhibits a slight lower discharge capacity and an increased overpotential than that of S-SCF due to the decreased surface area and oxygen content. However, a better cycle stability was proved for the D-MCF electrode because of its higher nitrogen and lower oxygen content. When further composited with RuO2 nanoparticles, the RuO2 /D-MCF cathode can operate 160 cycles with capacity cutoff of 500 mAh g −1, and this prolonged cycle life, compared to the 102 cycles of S-MCF cathode, verifies the superior electrochemical stability of D-MCF further and illuminates the crucial role of carbon substrate in the cathodes of Li-O2 batteries. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Silica was as template to prepare nitrogen and oxygen doped carbon foam (S-MCF). Pluronic F127 was as auxiliary template to prepare the carbon foam (D-MCF). Pluronic F127 changes architecture and surface chemical nature of MCFs. The MCFs composited with RuO2 were used as cathodes of Li-O2 batteries. The RuO2 /D-MCF exhibits excellent cycle stability up to 160 cycles.