Co₃O₄-Pt/graphene as air cathode catalyst for lithium-air battery

It is reported that the preparation of Co₃O₄-Pt/graphene hybrid and its use as air cathode catalyst for enhanced specific capacity in Lithium-air battery. Co₃O₄-Pt/graphene was synthesized by a two-step method. More specifically, Pt/graphene was prepared by microwave-assisted polyol process, and then it was mixed with Co₃O₄ uniformly to get highly efficient Co₃O₄-Pt/graphene as air-cathode catalyst. Micromorphology, composition and compositional dispersion of the obtained hybrid catalyst were then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman Spectroscopy (Ram). Co₃O₄-Pt/graphene air cathode catalyst was assembled with metal lithium anode, LiPF₆/EC-DMC-EMC electrolyte, and PP/PE/PP to construct a lithium-air battery. The constant current charge-discharge tests of the lithium-air battery exhibit enhanced specific capacity: the discharge specific capacity reaches up to 8000 mAh/g and the voltage is above 2.6 V, which is superior to alternative cathode catalysts. The enhanced performance of lithium-air battery is attributed to the joint effect of preparation process, composition, and compositional dispersion.