title: Selective deposition of Ru nanoparticles on TiSi₂ nanonet and its utilization for Li₂O₂ formation and decomposition.
abstract: The Li-O2 battery promises high capacity to meet the need for electrochemical energy storage applications. Successful development of the technology hinges on the availability of stable cathodes. The reactivity exhibited by a carbon support compromises the cyclability of Li-O2 operation. A noncarbon cathode support has therefore become a necessity. Using a TiSi2 nanonet as a high surface area, conductive support, we obtained a new noncarbon cathode material that corrects the deficiency. To enable oxygen reduction and evolution, Ru nanoparticles were deposited by atomic layer deposition onto TiSi2 nanonets. A surprising site-selective growth whereupon Ru nanoparticles only deposit onto the b planes of TiSi2 was observed. DFT calculations show that the selectivity is a result of different interface energetics. The resulting heteronanostructure proves to be a highly effective cathode material. It enables Li-O2 test cells that can be recharged more than 100 cycles with average round-trip efficiencies >70%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College , 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiahui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Ian P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.forename: De-En
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lien-Yang
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chia-Kuang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tsung
authors.forename: Dunwei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang