High capacity Graphene/ alpha -MnO sub(2) nanocomposite cathodes for Li-O sub(2) batteries

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 41; no. 23; pp. 9746 - 9754
• Main Authors: Cetinkaya, Tugrul, Akbulut, Hatem, Tokur, Mahmud, Ozcan, Seyma, Uysal, Mehmet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 22.06.2016
• Subjects: Cathodes; Charge; Current density; Discharge; Foams; Graphene; Metal air batteries; Nanocomposites
• ISSN: 0360-3199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.02.093

Graphene/ alpha -MnO sub(2) nanocomposite cathodes containing various amount of alpha -MnO sub(2) catalysts (10 wt.%, 30 wt.%, 50 wt.%) were produced using planetary ball milling. The charge-discharge characteristics of the Li-O sub(2) cells with composite cathodes have been investigated from 2.15 V to 4.35 V at a constant current density of 0.1 mA cm super(-2) with ECC-Air cells. In order to investigate lithium oxide formation and decomposition reactions on the Graphene/ alpha -MnO sub(2) cathode, cyclic voltammetry test was performed at a scan rate of 0.1 mV/s. The Li-O sub(2) cell with a Graphene/ alpha -MnO sub(2) nanocomposite cathode containing 50 wt.% alpha -MnO sub(2) exhibited a 6000 mAhg super(-1) discharge capacity at full discharge, 2500 mAhg super(-1) stable specific capacity up to 10th cycle at the state of 10 h charge and discharge and a 1250 mAhg super(-1) specific capacity until 25th cycle at the state of 5 h charge and discharge. This study demonstrated that Graphene/ alpha -MnO sub(2) nanocomposite cathodes on nickel foam might be a good alternative cathode material for Li-O sub(2) batteries in the future.