CuO Nanoplatelets with Highly Dispersed Ce-Doping Derived from Intercalated Layered Double Hydroxides for Synergistically Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Al-Air Batteries

Development of highly efficient, low-cost, and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is still a major obstacle that is preventing widespread commercialization of Al-air batteries. Herein, a cost-effective CuCe-layered double hydroxide (CuCe-LDH) was synthesized using a facile and scalable method of separate nucleation/growth steps, followed by an anion exchange process. The CuCe-LDH was successfully used as a precursor for the mass production of Ce-doped CuO nanoplatelets (Cu-Ce-O) as a Pt-free efficient electrocatalyst, which exhibited not only comparable electrocatalytic activity and durability in the ORR test but also a higher discharge voltage plateau when used in Al-air batteries compared to the benchmark Pt/C catalysts. A combination of structural characterizations and electrochemical analyses showed that the high ORR activity of the Cu-Ce-O catalyst was attributed to its high content of active species combined with their synergetic interactions. These results may provide an option for cost-effective production of ORR electrocatalysts Al-air cathodes.