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/Co 3 O 4 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 Co 3 O 4 nanowires but also directs the uniform deposition of a fluffy, thin Li 2 O 2 layer only on the periphery of Pt/Co 3 O 4 nanowires. This crystallization habit of Li 2 O 2 makes it easy to decompose upon recharge with reduced side reactions. As a result, Li–O 2 batteries with this cathode show low polarization.