Multi-shelled LaNi0.5Co0.5O3 yolk-shell microspheres as electrocatalysts for high-capacity lithium-oxygen batteries

A facile coprecipitation approach for synthesizing LaNi0.5Co0.5O3 as the cathode for a molten-salt lithium-oxygen battery

The cathode of a lithium-oxygen battery (LOB) should be well designed to deliver high catalytic activity and long stability, and to provide sufficient space for accommodating the discharge product. Herein, a facile coprecipitation approach is employed to synthesize LaNi0.5Co0.5O3 (LNCO) perovskite oxide with a low annealing temperature. The assembled LOB exhibits superior electrochemical performance with a low charge overpotential of 0.03-0.05 V in the current density range of 0.1-0.5 mA cm-2. The battery ran stably for 119 cycles at a high coulombic efficiency. The superior performance is ascribed to (i) the high catalytic activity of LNCO towards oxygen reduction/evolution reactions; (ii) the increased temperature enabling fast kinetics; and (iii) the LiNO3-KNO3 molten salt enhancing the stability of the LOB operating at high temperature.