Tailored Porous ZnCo2O4 Nanofibrous Electrocatalysts for Lithium–Oxygen Batteries

Jae Chan Kim, Gwang Hee Lee, Seun Lee, Seung Ik Oh, Yongku Kang, Dong Wan Kim

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Lithium-oxygen batteries are considered a next-generation technology owing to their extremely high theoretical energy density despite many challenges such as low round-trip efficiency and poor cyclability. The air-cathode structure and pore properties play a key role in solving these problems. In this study, we fabricate ZnCo2O4 nanofibers and design a porous nanostructure using a facile electrospinning process and selective etching of ZnO as the cathode material in lithium-oxygen batteries. First, non-porous ZnCo2O4 nanofiber electrodes accomplish high catalytic activity and good cycling stability during 116 cycles with a limited capacity of 1000 mA h g−1 at a current density of 500 mA g−1. For enhanced catalytic activity and cyclability, ZnO included ZnCo2O4 nanofibers are prepared using a Zn-excess electrospun solution and porous ZnCo2O4 nanofibers are fabricated via selective etching of ZnO. Porous ZnCo2O4 nanofiber electrodes exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity and cyclability for 226 cycles with a limited capacity of 1000 mA h g−1 at a current density of 500 mA g−1. The exceptional catalytic properties explain the synergistic effect of the one-dimensional nanostructure and porous structure with an appropriate pore diameter, providing a large active site and an efficient electron pathway during the Li2O2 formation/decomposition process.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number1701234
    JournalAdvanced Materials Interfaces
    Volume5
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018 Feb 22

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

    Keywords

    • ZnCoO
    • electrospinning
    • lithium–oxygen batteries
    • nanofibers
    • porous structure

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Mechanics of Materials
    • Mechanical Engineering

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