Optimization of Carbon- and Binder-Free Au Nanoparticle-Coated Ni Nanowire Electrodes for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

A Au nanoparticle-coated Ni nanowire substrate without binder or carbon is used as the electrode (denoted as the Au/Ni electrode) for Li-oxygen (Li-O-2) batteries. A minimal amount of Au nanoparticles with sizes of <30 nm on a Ni nanowire substrate are coated using a simple electrodeposition method to the extent that maximum capacity can be utilized. This optimized, one body, Au/Ni electrode shows high capacities of 921 mAh g(Au)(-1), 591 mAh g(Au)(-1), and 359 mAh g(Au)(-1), which are obtained at currents of 300 mAg(Au)(-1), 500 mAg(Au)(-1), and 1000 mAg(Au)(-1) respectively. More importantly, the Au/Ni electrode exhibits excellent cycle stability over 200 cycles.