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Yolk-shell structured Cu2O as a high-performance cathode catalyst for the rechargeable Li-O2 batteries

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Abstract

Developing an efficient cathode catalyst material is the most intrinsic requisite to acquire rechargeable Li-O2 batteries with long cycling life and high rate capacity. Here, yolk-shell structured Cu2O spheres were facilely synthesized using a wet-chemistry method with the PEG-500 as the surfactant. As catalyst cathode materials, yolk-shell structured Cu2O spheres show a low discharge/charge potential platform of 1.28 V with current density of 500 mA g−1. Compared with cubic-like Cu2O nanoparticles, yolk-shell structured Cu2O spheres have indicated a long and stable cycling life of 84 cycles with a high current density of 500 mA g−1, and which may be benefited to the porous structure and the large specific surface area. The introduction of Cu2O provides an effective solution to the problem of low round-trip efficiency in the Li-O2 battery.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by K.C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University, Ningbo natural science fund (Project No. 201701HJ-B01019) and college students of science and technology innovation projects in Zhejiang province (Project No. 2017R405008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315212, People’s Republic of China

    Xiao-yang Qiu, Shu-juan Liu & Deng-zhu Xu

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  1. Xiao-yang Qiu
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  2. Shu-juan Liu
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  3. Deng-zhu Xu
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Correspondence to Xiao-yang Qiu.

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Qiu, Xy., Liu, Sj. & Xu, Dz. Yolk-shell structured Cu2O as a high-performance cathode catalyst for the rechargeable Li-O2 batteries. J Mater Sci 53, 1318–1325 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1555-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1555-y

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