Novel and highly efficient catalyst for Li–O2 battery: Porous LaCo0.6Ni0.4O3 nanofibers decorated with ultrafine Co3O4 nanoparticles.

It is crucial to design effective cathode catalysts for high performance of Li–O 2 batteries (LOBs). Herein, porous LaCo 0.6 Ni 0.4 O 3 nanofibers decorated with ultrafine Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles (Co 3 O 4 @LCN NFs) are designed and employed as cathode catalyst for LOBs. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement results suggested that uniform dispreading of Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles on LCN NFs surface could largely increase the surface chemisorbed oxygen, resulting in enhanced catalytic activity. Furthermore, with the assistance of Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles, Co 3 O 4 @LCN NFs can significantly facilitate O 2 adsorption and diffusion, Li 2 O 2 nucleation/decomposition and the formation of tiny sheet-like Li 2 O 2 , thereby achieving a low charge overpotential. A high specific capacity of 11,288 mA h g−1, a low charge voltage plateau of 3.72 V at first cycle and excellent cycle stability of 116 cycles at 1000 mA g−1 are obtained for LOBs with Co 3 O 4 @LCN NFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]