Catalyst nanoarchitecturing via functionally implanted cobalt nanoparticles in nitrogen doped carbon host for aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2018-08, Vol.394, p.122-130
• Main Authors: Song, Junxiao, Lv, Xiaojun, Jiao, Yifeng, Wang, Peng, Xu, Ming, Li, Tianwei, Chen, Xiaobin, Li, Junming, Zhang, Zhian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cobalt@N-doped carbon; Electrocatalysts; Lithium-oxygen batteries; Microspheres
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.05.058

Nonaqueous Li-O2 batteries are of great interest because of their high theoretical energy density, and a stable porous cathode plays a vital role in electrochemical performance of Li-O2 batteries. Herein, catalyst nanoarchitecturing via functionally implanted cobalt nanoparticles in N-doped carbon host is fabricated by an ultrasonic method combined with controlled calcination process and served as an effective electrocatalyst for Li-O2 batteries. The synthesized catalyst holds a three-dimensional porous network structure, which could offer numerous active sites and provide the channels for mass transfer. When employed as an oxygen electrode, the Li-O2 battery shows improved discharge capacity of 3862 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.1 mA cm−2 and superior cycling stability up to 40 cycles with a limited capacity of 500 mA h g−1, owing to the porous carbon substrate with highly graphitic and better catalytic activity of implanted Co nanoparticles. The N-doped carbon with a high degree of graphitization is obtained by a catalytic pyrolysis method and Co as main catalyst also give a good reference for future design of efficient catalysts for electrochemical application. [Display omitted] •Functionally cobalt nanoparticles are implanted in N-doped carbon host.•The Co nanoparticles induce graphitic carbon form a porous network structure.•The Co@N-C is employed as cathode material for Li-O2 battery.•The cathode shows improved discharge capacity and superior cycling stability.