Advancing Lithium–Oxygen Battery Technology with an Iron–Nitrogen‐Doped Mesoporous Core–Shell Carbon Cathode Loaded with Ruthenium(IV) Oxide Nanoparticles

• Published in: Energy technology (Weinheim, Germany) Germany), 2017-05, Vol.5 (5), p.732-739
• Main Authors: Zhou, Ming, Li, Chi‐Ying Vanessa, Chan, Kwong‐Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon; Catalysts; Cathodes; Discharge; doping; energy storage; Iron; Lithium; Lithium batteries; lithium–oxygen batteries; nanoparticles; Nitrogen; Recharge; Ruthenium; Ruthenium oxide; Solid phases
• ISSN: 2194-4288; 2194-4296
• DOI: 10.1002/ente.201600468

An iron‐nitrogen‐doped core–shell mesoporous carbon support loaded with a RuO2 catalyst was used as a Li–O2 cathode. Corrosion and degradation problems were avoided by doping carbon with iron and nitrogen. Well‐dispersed RuO2 in the hierarchical porous structure facilitated a reversible nanoscale solid‐phase reaction. At 2.0 A g−1 (on the basis of catalyst plus carbon support), a capacity of 10 Ah g−1 was demonstrated with a discharge potential of 2.4 V and a corresponding recharge potential of 3.6 V. On the other hand, at 1.0 A g−1, the discharge and recharge potentials are maintained at 2.5 V and 3.5 V, respectively, over 50 cycles. The core of the matter: An Fe‐N‐doped core–shell mesoporous carbon support loaded with a RuO2 nanoparticles catalyst is used as a Li–O2 cathode. At 2.0 A g−1 (on the basis of catalyst plus carbon support), a capacity of 10 Ah g−1 was demonstrated with a discharge potential of 2.4 V and a corresponding recharge potential of 3.6 V. On the other hand, at 1.0 A g−1, the discharge and recharge potentials are maintained at 2.5 V and 3.5 V, respectively, over 50 cycles.