The (2 x 2) tunnels structured manganese dioxide nanorods with α phase for lithium air batteries

The (2 x 2) tunnels structured manganese dioxide nanorods with a phase (alpha-MnO2) are synthesized via simplistic hydrothermal method at low temperature. The obtained tunnels structured alpha-MnO2 nanorods are characterized by, Transmission electron microscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity was studied by cyclic voltammetry and rotating ring-disc electrode voltammetry techniques in alkaline media. Moreover; the highly electrocatalytic tunnels structured alpha-MnO2 nanorods were then also applied as cathode in rechargeable Li-O-2 cells. The Li-O-2 cells exhibited initial discharge capacity as high as similar to 4000 mAh/g with the tunnels structured alpha-MnO2 nanorods which was double the original capacity of the cells without any catalyst. Also we obtained 100% round trip efficiency upon cycling with limited capacity for more than 50 cycles. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.