The Influence of Carbonaceous Matrices and Electrocatalytic MnO2 Nanopowders on Lithium-Air Battery Performances

Abstract

Here, we report new gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) prepared by mixing two different pore size carbonaceous matrices and pure and silver-doped manganese dioxide nanopowders, used as electrode supports and electrocatalytic materials, respectively. MnO2 nanoparticles are finely characterized in terms of structural (X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX)), morphological (SEM, high-angle annular dark field (HAADF)-scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)/TEM), surface (Brunauer Emmet Teller (BET)-Barrett Joyner Halenda (BJH) method) and electrochemical properties. Two mesoporous carbons, showing diverse surface areas and pore volume distributions, have been employed. The GDE performances are evaluated by chronopotentiometric measurements to highlight the effects induced by the adopted materials. The best combination, hollow core mesoporous shell carbon (HCMSC) with 1.0% Ag-doped hydrothermal MnO2 (M_hydro_1.0%Ag) allows reaching very high specific capacity close to 1400 mAh·g−1. Considerably high charge retention through cycles is also observed, due to the presence of silver as a dopant for the electrocatalytic MnO2 nanoparticles.

A detailed investigation of MnO2 nanorods to be grown onto activated carbon. High efficiency towards aqueous methyl orange adsorption/degradation

“…Hence, among various available materials, metal oxides have potential applications in water treatment due to their high surface area and low regeneration costs [9]. In particular, nanosized manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ) is a multifunctional material, which has been broadly applied in the areas of electrocatalysis [26,27] and supercapacitors, as well as in the adsorption technology [9,28]. Furthermore, MnO 2 nanomaterials may also offer efficient and innovative solutions for organic pollutant degradation.…”

ORR in Non-Aqueous Solvent for Li-Air Batteries: The Influence of Doped MnO2-Nanoelectrocatalyst

“…For instance, Kim et al [26] reported the 5% Co-doped MnO 2 nanoparticles exhibiting an excellent capacitance retention (of about 97%) after 5000 charge/discharge cycles. Additionally, some authors of the present paper have recently proved that the 1% Ag-doping of manganese dioxide lattice allows reaching very high specific capacity close to 1400 mAh g −1 , with a considerable high charge retention through cycles [27]. However, most of these studies concerning the exploitation of differently modified MnO 2 nanoparticles were carried out in aqueous solvent.…”

MIL-88A Metal-Organic Framework as a Stable Sulfur-Host Cathode for Long-Cycle Li-S Batteries

“…Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) and lithium-oxygen (Li-O 2 ) batteries were proposed as promising high-energy rechargeable systems for emerging applications. Despite the various problems that still present, these two attractive systems exceed the initial expectations of them evolving rapidly, improving the efficiency and achieving high performances, which could lead to these devices to their possible implantation in the development of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles and modern electronics [9][10][11]. Specifically, Li-S batteries are at the forefront in the development of efficient and sustainable high energy systems receiving great interest in recent years [12].…”