A self-assembled nanoflower-like Ni<sub>5</sub>P<sub>4</sub>@NiSe<sub>2</sub> heterostructure with hierarchical pores triggering high-efficiency electrocatalysis for Li–O<sub>2</sub> batteries
Xue Han, Yanjie Liang, Lanling Zhao, Jun Wang, Qing Xia, Deyuan Li, Yao Liu, Zhaorui Zhou, Yuxin Long, Yebing Li, Yiming Zhang, Shulei Chou
Abstract
Abstract The remarkably high theoretical energy densities of Li–O 2 batteries have triggered tremendous efforts for next-generation conversion devices. Discovering efficient oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR/OER) bifunctional catalysts and revealing their internal structure-property relationships are crucial in developing high-performance Li–O 2 batteries. Herein, we have prepared a nanoflower-like Ni 5 P 4 @NiSe 2 heterostructure and employed it as a cathode catalyst for Li–O 2 batteries. As expected, the three-dimensional biphasic Ni 5 P 4 @NiSe 2 nanoflowers facilitated the exposure of adequate active moieties and provide sufficient space to store more discharge products. Moreover, the strong electron redistribution between Ni 5 P 4 and NiSe 2 heterojunctions could result in the built-in electric fields, thus greatly facilitating the ORR/OER kinetics. Based on the above merits, the Ni 5 P 4 @NiSe 2 heterostructure catalyst improved the catalytic performance of Li–O 2 batteries and holds great promise in realizing their practical applications as well as inspiration for the design of other catalytic materials.