Tips-Bundled Pt/Co₃O₄ Nanowires with Directed Peripheral Growth of Li₂O₂ as Efficient Binder/Carbon-Free Catalytic Cathode for Lithium–Oxygen Battery

Abstract

We propose a new design of a binder/carbon-free air electrode with tips-bundled Pt/Co₃O₄ nanowires grown directly on Ni foam substrate. In this design, the side reactions related to binder/carbon are excluded. The presence of Pt not only promotes the formation of the tips-bundled structure of Co₃O₄ nanowires but also directs the uniform deposition of a fluffy, thin Li₂O₂ layer only on the periphery of Pt/Co₃O₄ nanowires. This crystallization habit of Li₂O₂ makes it easy to decompose upon recharge with reduced side reactions. As a result, Li–O₂ batteries with this cathode show low polarization