Synthesis and Characterizations of MnO<SUB>2</SUB>/Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposites for Lithium-Air Battery

Abstract

In this work, rechargeable lithium-air battery using MnO2/MWNTs nanocomposites as a catalyst was studied. MnO2/MWNTs nanocomposites were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and their physical and chemical properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to examine crystallinity and morphology was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Charge-discharge behavior and cell impedance with electrolyte replacement were investigated, and charge-discharge capacity decreased with cycles mainly due to the decomposition of carbonate-based electrolyte.

A facile approach to synthesize stable CNTs@MnO electrocatalyst for high energy lithium oxygen batteries

“…Therefore, it is necessary to develop stable and efficient electrocatalysts with proper morphology for the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions in the lithium air battery 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 . The electrocatalysts can be roughly classified into the following three categories: (1) porous carbon materials, including carbon black, nanostructured carbon, functionalized carbon, and graphene, which, strictly speaking, are not electrocatalysts, but act as electrocatalyst support or as an electrically conductive additive 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ; (2) precious metals (alloys), for example, Pt, Au, Ag, and Pd, which might make a lithium air battery economically impractical 15 16 17 18 19 ; and (3) transition metal oxides, mainly manganese-based oxides and composites, and cobalt oxides 9 20 21 22 23 24 , which have attracted great attention because of their potential low cost and rich resources. Among these catalysts, various structures and morphologies of manganese oxide, such as MnO 2 nanowires, MnO 2 hollow spheres, and MnO 2 nanorods, have been synthesized and used as cathode catalysts for lithium air batteries 20 .…”