Rational design of Ru/TiO2/CNTs as cathode promotion of cycling performance for aprotic: lithium-oxygen battery

Realizing long-life cycling is the biggest challenge in the research field of Li-O2 batteries in the current stage. The main reasons for poor cycling performance are the sluggish Li2O2 formation and decomposition process, as well as the side reaction of carbon cathode. In order to accurately address the problems above, a TiO2/CNTs cathode was rationally designed for long-life Li-O2 batteries. The CNTs skeleton offers multiple three-dimensional channels for the rapid transportation of oxygen, Li+ and electrons. A thin-film and discontinuous layer of TiO2 is coated on the CNTs surface to effectively inhibit the carbon corrosion but still could let mass transfer smoothly. Ultrafine Ru nanoparticles decorating the TiO2/CNTs serve as efficient catalytic active sites. Benefiting from the unique structure design, Li-O2 batteries with the cathode of TiO2/CNTs achieve a cycling life of 110 with a fixed capacity of 500 mAh g-1at a current density of 100 mA g-1. Our research generates new ideas for designing long-cycling Li-O2 battery cathodes.