Catalysis of oxygen reaction on positive electrode of a lithium–oxygen cell in the presence of metallic nanosystems

Abstract

Electrocatalytic characteristics of a series of carbon materials (carbon blacks XC-72 and Super P and also multiwall nanotubes) and binary metallic nanosystems formed on carbon black XC-72 (PtRu/C and PdRu/C) are studied in the cathodic and anodic reactions of the positive electrode of a lithium–oxygen cell with nonaqueous electrolyte in the first discharge/charging cycles. It is found that a significant decrease in the cell charging overpotential is observed at a transition from carbon supports to binary systems. Overvoltage of the cathodic process also decreases when DMSO-based electrolyte is used in the case of binary systems. The obtained results are due to acceleration of oxygen reduction (cell discharge stage) and facilitation of lithium peroxide oxidation (cell charging stage) on the PtRu/C and PdRu/C systems.