Achieving outstanding Li+-ORR and -OER activities via edge- and corner-embedded bimetallic nanocubes for rechargeable Li-O2 batteries

The shape of catalysts has been regarded as a crucial physical factor to determine its catalytic activity in various applications. However, very little is known about the catalyst shape dependent activities for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the cathode of Li-O-2 battery. Hence, we synthesized Pt3Co nanocube (NC) for the comparison with Pt3Co nanoparticle (NP) by regulating the ratio of reducer (hexadecanediol; HDD) amount. Consequently, we could report on very high capacity (10,000 mA h g(carbon)(-1)), superb rate capability (3500 mA h g(caribon)(-1) at 2000 mA g(caribon)(-1)) and high reversibility of Lithium-O-2 batteries using Pt3Co NC catalysts. Particularly, the Pt3Co NCs catalyst exhibited a low OER potential of 3.1 V, providing the highest round trip efficiency of similar to 86.5% at a current density of 200 mA g(caribon)(-1) which is much superior to NPs catalyst. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.