Spinel MFe2O4 (M = Co, Ni) nanoparticles coated on multi-walled carbon nanotubes as electrocatalysts for Li–O2 batteries

Abstract

Ternary spinel MFe₂O₄ (M = Co, Ni) nanoparticles coated on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MFe₂O₄/CNTs) were prepared via a simple hydrothermal method. Owing to their favorable structures and desirable bi-functional oxygen reduction and evolution activities, the resulting MFe₂O₄/CNT (M = Co, Ni) composites as electrocatalysts for the cathodes deliver better electrochemical performance during the discharge and charge processes compared with that of the pure carbon of ketjen black (KB). The good performance can be attributed to the excellent catalytic activity of highly dispersed MFe₂O₄ (M = Co, Ni) nanoparticles and facile electron transport by supporting CNTs. This preliminary result manifests that the ternary spinel MFe₂O₄/CNT (M = Co, Ni) composites are promising cathode electrocatalysts for non-aqueous Li–O₂ batteries.