Issue 42, 2020

Graphene quantum dots as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for lithium–oxygen batteries

Abstract

Emerging graphene quantum dots (GQDs) materials have attracted worldwide attention in biological, optoelectronic and energy-related applications because of their unique features. Herein, we successfully synthesized glucose-derived GQDs through a hydrothermal process, which were further employed as an efficient cathodic catalyst in non-aqueous lithium–oxygen batteries for the first time. The GQDs possessed an average size of about 3 nm (less than 10 layers), and exhibited excellent water/ethanol solubility, which was beneficial for the impregnation process. The distinct G band in the Raman spectrum of the GQDs demonstrated their crystalline core, and their unique optical properties suggested the existence of a self-passivated layer outside their core. Furthermore, a GQDs-impregnated cathode was fabricated, which delivered an ultrahigh capacity of 68 900 mA h g−1 under a current density of 1400 mA g−1 in a 1 M LiTFSI/TEGDME electrolyte system. Moreover, the GQDs-impregnated cathode showed a quite good stability under a current density of 2000 mA g−1. Under a limited capacity of 1000 mA h g−1, it could cycle for 300 cycles without obvious decay. These results strongly suggest that the GQDs materials have good application prospect in lithium–oxygen battery systems as a superior cathodic catalyst.

Graphical abstract: Graphene quantum dots as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for lithium–oxygen batteries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Aug 2020
Accepted
06 Oct 2020
First published
07 Oct 2020

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020,8, 22356-22368

Graphene quantum dots as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for lithium–oxygen batteries

Y. Wu, X. Zhu, X. Ji, W. Liu, W. Wan, Y. Wang, X. Pan and Z. Lu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8, 22356 DOI: 10.1039/D0TA07587F

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