Bifunctional Hybrid Catalysts with Perovskite LaCo_0.8Fe_0.2O₃ Nanowires and Reduced Graphene Oxide Sheets for an Efficient Li–O₂ Battery Cathode

Abstract

In this paper, bifunctional catalysts consisting of perovskite LaCo_0.8Fe_0.2O₃ 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.