Bifunctional Hybrid Catalysts with Perovskite LaCo0.8Fe0.2O3 Nanowires and Reduced Graphene Oxide Sheets for an Efficient Li–O2 Battery Cathode

Abstract

In this paper, bifunctional catalysts consisting of perovskite LaCo0.8Fe0.2O3 nanowires (LCFO NWs) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets were prepared for use in lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) battery cathodes. The prepared LCFO@rGO composite was explored as a cathode catalyst for Li-O2 batteries, resulting in an outstanding discharge capacity (ca. 7088.2 mAh g-1) at the first cycle. Moreover, a high stability of the O2-cathode with the LCFO@rGO catalyst was achieved over 56 cycles under the capacity limit of 500 mAh g-1 with a rate of 200 mA g-1, as compared to the Ketjenblack carbon and LCFO NWs. The enhanced electrochemical performance suggests that these hybrid composites of perovskite LCFO NWs with rGO nanosheets could be a perspective bifunctional catalyst for the cathode oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions in the development of next-generation Li-O2 battery cathodes. © 2018 American Chemical Society.